KARACHI

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company launched the second phase of their partnership in Thar, focusing on improving community livelihoods and biodiversity conservation, at a ceremony organized in Karachi on Thursday.

The launch ceremony was attended MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro, senior officials from the government, as well as by representatives of the development sector, academia, media and the private sector.

The program follows an earlier project on vulture conservation and the first-ever ecological survey of Thar in Sindh.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro appreciated the role the private sector is playing in the development of Thar, and said: “I am encouraged to note that IUCN and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) are taking forward their partnership into the next phase – and working towards improving the livelihoods of the communities and conservation in Thar.”

He added that “the progress of the Thar coal energy is a clear reflection of our commitment to the people, and we hope we will together bring about betterment for the people of Thar in particular and the province in general.”

“SECMC has created a wonderful example by not only responding to the energy needs of the people but it has at the same time, created thousands of opportunities for both men and women of Thar,” he noted.

CEO Amir Iqbal of SECMC said, “From the very beginning of our mining project, our team knew that SECMC has the potential to bring about great positive change in Thar. Our partnership with IUCN is giving the Thar Dream a whole new dimension – sustainability.”

“This partnership focuses on promoting climate change resilient livelihoods in Thar as well as protecting the Thar ecosystem through species’ recovery and habitat conservation. I am confident that together with IUCN, we will continue to create a lasting, positive impact for Thar communities,” CEO SECMC added.

Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative of IUCN, said in his welcome remarks, that “IUCN, which works on nature conservation, has joined hands with SECMC to work towards protecting the fauna and flora or Thar and also to create innovative techniques to improve livelihoods of Thari communities.”

Umair Aslam Butt, Head of HSE, SECMC, said he hoped that this partnership would create the opportunity to work for the communities and help contribute to improving their livelihoods, create new sources of incomes and help towards bringing about prosperity in

The project presentation was given by Danish Rashdi, Head of IUCN Karachi Program Office, who said that the initiative is aimed at supporting communities in Thar and “the path to this goal is through conservation and sustainable development”. The presentation highlighted the key focus areas including biodiversity conservation and biosaline agriculture. (PR)

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Islamkot, Tharparkar: The Thar Foundation, a social arm of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), has launched fumigation in almost all the villages falling in Thar Coal Block-2 after some cases of dengue and malaria were   reported in certain areas.

The fumigation drive has been started in Thar Coal Block-2 and Gorano areas with the support of provincial health department. “The fumigation drive will cover about 20 villages and will benefit twenty thousand people of those villages,” a Thar Foundation press release said.

It is said that three dengue cases were reported from Union Council Seengario.

The villages to be covered by fumigation drive include – Soomar Ji Dhani, New Senhri Dars, Thario Halepoto, Jeeando Dars, Mansigh Bheel, Talho Bheel, Seengario, Aban Jo Tar, Bitra, Jaman Samoon, Gorano, Ehsan Shah Tar, Muto Tar, Suleman Hajam, Allah Dino Hajam, Shiv Jo Tar, Kattan and others.  (PR)

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By GR Junejo

Islamkot, Tharparkar: Sindh government on Sunday launched Annual Grant Scheme for the households residing within one-kilometer vicinity of Gorano Reservoir by distributing cheques to the 507 eligible household owners.

As per scheme approved by the Sindh Cabinet each family living within the one-kilometer vicinity of Gorano Reservoir will be eligible to receive an annual grant of Rs.100,000/= for lifetime i.e. 30 years.

On the directions of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and processed by Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, member of the national assembly from Tharparkar Dr. Mahesh Malani, and member Sindh Assembly Faqeer Sher Muhammad Bilalani distributed cheques among the eligible household owners. The scheme was part of the Thar Coal Project under which locals belonging to the immediate vicinity of the project area will receive lifetime grants to get direct benefit from the project.

The 172 households of New Senhri Dars village of Thar Coal Block II are already receiving annual grant of Rs.100,000/= since last two years.

The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar, Muhammad Nawaz Soho, Manager CSR Thar Foundation Mohsin Babbar, and Assistant Commissioner Islamkot, Samiullah Sanjrani and participated by local Gorano elders Ahmad Shah, Hamid Dohar, Bheem Raj, Leela Ram, Bhooral Shah, Lakho Bheel, local Pakistan People Party leaders Susheel Malani, Siraj Soomro, and others.

Addressing the ceremony, MNA Dr. Mahesh Malani said that to give benefit to locals living around the Gorano reservoir, the Sindh Cabinet approved an annual grant scheme of Rs.100,000/= each to the eligible households for 30 years.

He said the Government of Sindh will take more such decisions so that locals may reap the fruits of the Thar Coal development of the area. “Under the umbrella of Engro and Thar Foundation, Sindh government is already providing basic necessities like clean drinking water, health clinics, and educational facilities to the people of the area,” he added.

Manager CSR Thar Foundation, Mohsin Babbar said the local Tharis should be the prime beneficiaries of the developments taking place in the area, which we consider their legitimate right.

He thanked the Sindh government for introducing a historic and unprecedented policy decision to provide grants to the eligible households of the area, which is never seen before in the development history of Pakistan.

The local elders of the area Bheem Raj, Hamid Dohar, and Lakho Bheel also received annual grant cheques from the chief guests and said it’s their right to receive all facilities including the annual grants.

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Islamkot, Tharparkar: Thar Foundation has inducted five Thari women in its maintenance team at Solar Power Plant of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) in Thar Coal Block-2.

“We already have 26 women dump truck drivers and 12 women RO plant operators in our team. Today 5 more local women of Tharparkar joined as part of maintenance team at solar power plant of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company at Block-2,” Thar Foundation said in a press release on Wednesday.

“These women have been recruited after an extensive training,” it said adding that Thar Foundation continues struggle to bring more women in its team at Thar Coal Block-2.

SECMC and Engro PowerGen Ltd are implementing mining and power projects with a robust CSR program by Thar Foundation under guidance and support of Government of Sindh, which is a majority owner of the mining project at Block-2.

“Women of Thar continue to demonstrate their abilities and strong will to move forward. Thar Foundation is a strong believer of women empowerment and we do it in a best possible manner with your support and guidance,” press release concluded.

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The wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have yet learned to ask. The outdoor is where I go to clear my mind. If I have to write something, being outside helps me think more clearly and pen it down.

By Nasir Aijaz

I often embark on journeys to the wilderness, following what the Nancy Wynne Newhall, an American photography critic of 20^th century, had said that ‘the wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have yet learned to ask’. The outdoor is where I go to clear my mind. If I have to write something, being outside helps me think more clearly and pen it down.

And for finding answers to certain questions on environmental impact of coalmining in Thar Desert, I once again left Karachi after three years for Desert District Tharparkar.

I had been visiting this part of the Thar Desert since about four decades and observing the conditions the desert and its dwellers had been going through – the miseries caused by natural disasters like frequent droughts, sometimes flash floods caused by torrential rains and also the earthquake jolts, and yes the joyful days of Thari people during the rainy season, their culture, traditions etc. I had been travelling to Thar Desert when there was no electricity, no telephone and no metaled roads – just tracks between the sand dunes and the trucks of WW II era operating as the only mode of public transport that also carried animals and dumped other goods along with passengers.

However, great changes have taken place in Thar Desert and in the lives of most of its dwellers since last two decades after construction of metaled roads, provision of electricity, mobile phone network, internet service, establishment of private and public sector hospitals, educational institutions etc. And yes, new air-conditioned passenger coaches and other luxury vehicles have also replaced the trucks of WW-II era reducing the travel time to great extent. The development process got impetuous after coalmining kicked off here about a decade back. Thar Desert now seems a blend of wilderness, miseries and the development, as although certain towns present an urbanized look, one can observe miseries being suffered by people living in the old traditional hutments, locally called as ‘Chuanra’ built at sand dunes, and the camels, cows and goats grazing in the jungle of innumerable but scattered trees and wild bushes on both sides of roads, while traveling in luxury vehicles on metaled roads.

The water had been scanty in Thar Desert and the people used to dig deep wells to fetch the water or from ‘Tarais’ (the low-lying areas between the sand dunes) and artificially dug depressions, where the water accumulates during the rainy season. However, over the years, certain developments have taken place, as in some of the towns the water is being supplied through pipelines while in villages Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plants have been installed. But unfortunately, most of these RO plants, installed by government, often remain inoperative. At some places, the non-government organizations use to operate the RO plants or have installed hand pumps to help desert people get the water. In remote areas of Thar, the people still fetch water from deep wells and are compelled to consume it despite being brackish.

Under the sands of the Thar Desert lies one of the world’s largest coal reserves estimated to be 170 billion tons, which can meet the energy needs of Pakistan for the next few centuries. The reserves, buried deep under the desert sands, are separated by giant fossilized aquifers. Certain hydro geological studies show the presence of three aquifer zones at varying depths: above the coal zone, within the coal zone and below the coal zone.

Bashir Ansari, a Mining Engineer and the pioneer of coalmining in Thar, had once said that the water available in such aquifers could irrigate the entire Thar Desert. Listening to his words, I had recalled a quote from Bible: “For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert plain. The heat-parched ground will become a reedy pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. In the lairs where jackals rested, there will be green grass and reeds and papyrus.”

And it happened later, when Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) started excavation at Thar Coal Block-2, the water oozed out at the depth of 180 meters, which had to be discharged somewhere far from the coalmining site. The SECMC had selected an area for this purpose near Gorano Village.

My first destination on first day of journey was this Lake named after Gorano Village, about 40km from Islamkot town and 27km from coalmine site. It was a low-lying area spread over 1500 acre, and found suitable to release water discharged from coalmine. The SECMC had purchased this land owned by the local people and installed some 17 tube-wells to release brackish water of open pit coalmine through a long pipeline to this depression, which turned into a lake covering about 600 to 700 acres. For beautifying the area and providing recreation facility to the local people as well as the visitors, the company had developed an amusement park erecting colorful sheds, swings and benches at the top of nearby sand dune. I was curious to observe the changes that might have taken place after my visit in 2018.

The park looked well-maintained by the gardeners present there however I observed that a large number of trees scattered in and around the lake, which had turned lush green due to abundance of water at that time, had now lost their color and leaves and almost bald and blackish trees could be seen there. Another new thing I noticed from atop the dune was activity of certain people at the lakeside. They were some fishermen and two boatmen. I was told that the fishermen were locals and employed by the company for fishing while two boatmen, also hailing from Hathoongo, a desert town of Sanghar district, were hired from Pakistan Navy. A man drove us from dune-top to the lakeside.

Watch the Video: Gorano Lake 

Soon as we reached at lakeside, a man came from a small hut and introduced himself as Zakaullah, a fisherman employed by the company. And my first question to him was regarding decaying trees. “It’s because of brackish water,” he told and added, “The trees in the mid of lake surrounded by brackish water since years have turned grey and bald but you see the trees in surrounding areas are green.”

“We have now planted the mangroves saplings along the lake, which can grow in brackish water like in coastal areas,” he said pointing to mangrove plantation.

In the meantime, the boatmen had installed the engine to the boat and were ready to take me for a boat ride. During half an hour ride, the boat passed close to bald trees from where some migratory birds flew away noticing the human presence. “The migratory birds have found a new wetland – safe from the threat of hunting,” one of the boatmen told. “Currently their number has decreased due to warm weather, but you can see here flocks of migratory birds at the lake during winter.”

The IUCN’s ecological survey had also stated that Gorano Dam was relatively safe for migratory birds.

As the sun was about to set behind the sand dunes, we returned to the lakefront. During the boat ride I had witnessed several fishing nets laid in the lake. Before stepping out of the boat, I saw two fishermen pulling a net filled with fish catch towards us. The net had in it about a dozen fishes of different species, size and weight and still alive being in water. One of them was of about five kilogram weight. A fisherman took out a black color medium size fish from the net and set it free in the lake. “We have named it as ‘Major’ having no taste to eat,” he told. His remark made us all to laugh.

It was in my knowledge that the Thar Foundation, established by SECMC for carrying out social welfare activities in Thar Coal Block-2, had initiated fish breeding in Gorano Reservoir under its Aqua Culture Development Project, and released one hundred thousand fish seeds initially and later another 200000 seeds were released in 2019 in consultation with Sindh Fisheries Department. The laboratory tests had declared the Gorano Reservoir fish fit for human consumption.

Availability of fish in Thar Desert was an unbelievable development but the fisherman told that seven fish species including Morakhi, Rohu, Theli, Kuriro, Gulfam, African Catfish, and Dangri are found there in abundance to surprise of many people.

“In two years more than 45000 Kg fish catch was distributed to local villages free of cost,” Zakaullah told. “Even today, many villagers came here to get the fish.”

Two officials of Thar Foundation, who accompanied me, also confirmed saying that the Foundation has no plans of marketing it. “Entire fish catch is distributed among local villagers free of cost. However there is restriction on fishing by locals. Foundation has employed its own fishermen for this purpose.”

When I inquired how the sweet water fish species survive in brackish water, Zakaullah said, “Even in sweet water fish farming, you need to mix certain amount of salt. In this case, it is already available and you would be surprised to know that the fish raised here is more healthy and bigger in size and weight than rest of fish farms in Sindh.”

“Believe me sir, one of these fish species has grown to such a size and weight that it cannot be caught easily. Once we caught and weighed it to be of 15kg,” he told.

And later, I confirmed his statement regarding raising the fish in saline waters from certain international studies. An IUCN report also refers to a study in West Virginia where many active and abandoned mine sites have plentiful water supplies suitable for raising many aquaculture species. Another international report also mentioned that as the use of conventional water sources such as springs, streams and ponds approach their production limits in USA, alternative water sources for raising fish has become more attractive.  One such non-traditional source is mine water.

My next day started with visits to Thar Foundation’s school and a most modern hospital in Islamkot. The school was the biggest one of 27 schools run by the Foundation with enrollment of several hundred students while the hospital had a functional OPD with neat and clean atmosphere. Construction of its 250-bed wards was at the stage of completion.

Then I proceeded to observe the progress of bio-saline project launched in coalmine area to introduce bio-saline agriculture. Traditionally, the Thar people are dependent on rain-fed agriculture, but here highly saline ground water drawn from the depth of 180-200 meters as part of mining activity is being used to grow fodder and crops. A pilot Project was initiated in November 2016 and different varieties like Guar, Bajra, Gidro (Melon) and Moong (Lentil) Pea, Apple Beri and Moringa have been successfully grown. Seeing positive results, project was expanded to larger scale with addition of sunflower, moong, Toriyo, lady fingers and other crops. “Thar Foundation has joined hands with Pakistan Agriculture Research Centre (PARC) to conduct further research and mainstreaming of bio-saline agriculture in Thar,” Naseer Memon, General Manager of the Foundation, who had joined me there, told.

During the visit to Apple Beri plantation spread over six acre land and a nursery with over a million saplings of different flowers, Naseer Memon told that the entire produce of Apple Beri and vegetables is also distributed among local people free of cost.

The sweetness of Apple Beri grown there over six acre area really surprised me when I tasted randomly plucked fruit.

The saplings of various plants grown at nursery are supplied to various organizations. Another success was raising of trees over 60 acres of land adjacent to Bashir Ansari Memorial Park. The trees here had grown as tall as a man’s height, and all with the saline water.

After a whirlwind tour of open pit coalmine and having brief chat with mining engineers hailing from Thar and women dump truck drivers busy transporting the excavated earth to dumping area, I visited the village Sengaro where a young village girl operates the RO Plant.

I had met and interviewed twenty under-training Thari women truck drivers during previous tour and now they were confidently driving the heavy vehicles. So far 50 women have acquired such training while a group of another 16 Thari women was being imparted the training at Thar Foundation’s Driving School breaking the traditional taboos.  These women are provided stipend, uniform and day-care facility for their kids and lunch.

Watch the Video: Thari Women Dump Truck Drivers 

Following a successful program of women dump truck drivers, Thar Foundation took a new and novel initiative of training and employing Thari women to operate and maintain its RO plants. “Thar Foundation has trained 18 local women in operation and maintenance of RO plants and so far 12 of them have been employed at our RO plants in Block-2 area,” Naseer Memon told introducing the Trainer and Supervisor Ms. Heena Kolhi and a village girl Nabeela who operates the RO Plant at her village.

Heena Kolhi, a 25-year girl from Islamkot, District Tharparkar faced a lot of hardship to complete her education in an area where the literacy rate among women is less than 15 percent. Heena belongs to a family which is discriminated against as a “lower caste” community because of their family profession of janitorial services to the local town committee.

My curiosity then took me to two other villages – Thariyo Halepoto and the New Senhri Dars. The New Senhri Dars is the relocated and newly built village with spacious 172 households of old village Senhri Dars. The village was built as per town planning ensuring state-of-the-art structures, enhancing the quality of life without compromising the natural ecosystem, social fabric, lifestyle and traditions of the Thari people. The new village has a network of wide metaled roads, a 10-shop market, a temple and a mosque and community center.

Thariyo Halepoto Village located at a distance of two kilometers from coalmine is also to be relocated like the Senhri Dars Village and I had detailed exchange of views with the village people including shop-owners, serving and retired teachers as well as the laborers. The dwellers of this village belonged to Halepota, Kolhi, Bheel and Meghwar communities. “Feeling sad on relocation from ancestral abodes is natural, but you know the people will get big built houses with provision of all facilities,” Muhammad Hassan Halepoto, a serving teacher, Bashir Halepoto, a retired teacher and Qurban Ali, a teacher, who also runs a cloth shop in village, told. One of them jokingly said, “The people of other villages too are approaching the coal company for relocating them.”

The villagers also introduced a person – Manzoor Ahmed Halepoto, basically a laborer, but turned to be Chinese translator, as while working with Chinese engineers since years, he learnt their language that benefitted him financially. “I earn Rs.70000/- a month working as Chinese translator,” Manzoor told.

Before leaving, I enquired about supply of electricity to the villages falling in the limits of Thar Coal Field. “We receive zero amount bills for electricity we consume, as Sindh government pays the bills for 100 units electricity to the WAPDA,” the villagers told.

On my way back to Karachi, I thought it wouldn’t be exaggeration if I claim that the Thar Desert, like other deserts of the world, tells a different story every time I ventured on it. The painful story during my sojourn was that although this particular part of Tharparkar has been going through transformation, there were lots of reports of committing suicide by the poor Thari people across the district.

And another one of the new stories is that the Chinese company – SSRL (Shanghai Electric) working on coalmine and power plant in Thar Coal Block-I has hired the people mostly from outside Sindh and has not initiated any project under the corporate social responsibility.

The SSRL is installing two coal-fired power plants of 660 MW for which the Sindh government has earmarked 621 acre land. The company has acquired 180 acre land from the villagers at the rate of Rs.150000/- per acre.

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About the Author

Nasir Aijaz is a senior journalist based in Karachi. He is author of nine books including three research works, three translations from foreign literature and a travelogue besides hundreds of articles published in Pakistan and abroad in newspapers and journals. 

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Thar Coal Block II Observes World Earth Day; employees of SECMC and Thar Foundation plant saplings

Islamkot, Tharparkar: Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and Thar Foundation have successfully planted approximately 910,000 plants under its Thar Million Tree Plantation (TMTP) program.

On the occasion of World Earth Day on Thursday, employees of the organization showcased their commitment to the environment by planting tree saplings under the initiative and demonstrated firm plans to continue the drive until the target is attained – which is expected by end of 2021, says a press release.

The organization hosted a ceremony to mark the day which was presided over by the General Manager, Site Operations – Zia Haider. Speaking at the occasion he said: “Through dedicated plantation drives we can greatly reduce the incidence of climate change. Our urban cities have transformed into concrete jungles and the trend of tree plantation has greatly reduced. Planting trees today is a dividend that will benefit our future generations.”

The HSE Manager of the Company – Waqas Abdul Aziz – told the audience that to date under the TMT Plantation drive 910,000 tree saplings have already been planted and it is expected that the drive will culminate at the end of the year with 1million target successfully reached. He further elaborated that in order to reduce the carbon footprint the Company has taken several steps as mitigation measures. These initiatives also include setting up Sindh’s largest private-sector plant nursery in Thar Block II.

Mohsin Babbar – Manager CSR – Thar Foundation said: “Our environmental mitigation efforts which include the TMT Plantation program, Ansari Green park, and Bio-saline agriculture projects are being lauded not just in Pakistan but also across the world. Before our interventions, there was no concept of Biosaline agriculture in Tharparkar. We conducted the pilot projects and proved to the world that the underground saline water can be used to bring an agricultural revolution in the region.”

The employees of SECMC and Thar Foundation planted trees after the ceremony under the TMTP program. The event was attended by Muhammad Amir Khan, Tejvir Singh, Nimra Hussain, Hafiz Shakeel, Tashfeen Majeed, Aijaz Khan, Najeeb Shah, Asif Dars, and Irfan Junejo amongst others. (PR)

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Female drivers of dump trucks, RO Plant Operators, teachers, lady health workers and ex-councilors receive the awards

Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar distributes awards at a ceremony organized by Thar Foundation and SECMC

By GR Junejo

Mithi: Some Thari women hailing from various areas of Desert District Tharparkar were honored on Monday with awards as recognition for their contribution in different spheres of life.

The Thari Women Award ceremony was organized here by Thar Foundation and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC).

The women who received the awards for Women Empowerment were Ms. Khimya, a Lady Health Worker Supervisor, Ms. Manjoo Bai Kolhi, Ms. Shakutla, Ex-Councilors, Ms. Hina Kolhi, and Ms. Veenti Bheel, RO Plant Operators of Thar Foundation, Ms. Amboo Bai and Ms. Jeema, Dump Truck Drivers of SECMC, Ms. Vijay Laxmi, Ms. Bhagwanti and Ms. Jay Paradha, Teachers of Govt. Girls High School, Islamkot, Ms. Ayesha, Ms. Cheena and Ms. Sandhya, teachers at Thar Foundation Schools.

Before the award ceremony, schoolgirls presented tableaus and speeches on women empowerment and the contribution of women in society.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of Tharparkar Muhammad Nawaz Soho said, “Economic development and prosperity of the most underdeveloped district Tharparkar cannot be achieved until the women of the region are provided with equal livelihood and income generation opportunities.”

“Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and overall economic growth without active women participation have no value,” he added.

DC Thar said that great poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai has also greatly highlighted the role of women in his poetry compiled as Shah Jo Risalo. “The society of Sindh must thank him for signifying women’s role in the rural setup of Sindh as he (Bhittai) considers them Heroes of Sindh.”

SECMC and TF Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi said it was a daunting task to onboard Thari unskilled women of a rural setting to become trained industrialized dump truck drivers and RO plant operators. But, he added, the determination and will to bring them on board paid off.

He said that the industry in Thar is booming keeping in view the potential of exploitation of natural resources like Coal, granite, and the China Clay. “The operators and investors must come forward and dare to invest in the rural women of Thar and they will have handsome returns”, he said.

Ghulam Nabi Sahar, District Education Officer, Syeda Sabeen Shah, Manager Education Thar Foundation, Kuldeep Parwani, President Traders Association, Dr. Shankar Wankwani, Civil Society Representative, Abdul Ghani Bajeer, President Press Club Islamkot, and others also spoke on the occasion. Kamlesh Pagarani and Rashna Zameer moderated the session.

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Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company officials hand over Gaucher land (grazing Land) to the resettled communities of village Senhri Dars at a ceremony  

By GR Junejo

Islamkot, Tharparkar: In pursuance of Sindh government’s Resettlement Action Framework provisions developed in the wake of Thar coal projects, 850 Acres of Gaucher land (grazing Land) has been handed over to the resettled communities of Thar Coal Block II.

The implementation of policy decision was accomplished by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) during a ceremony held here on Friday participated by representatives of resettled communities of village New Senhri Dars, senior revenue officials, and representatives of the company and Thar Foundation.

SECMC is a public private partnership model between the Government of Sindh and Engro Corporation to exploit 1.75 billion tons of coal reserves in Thar Coal Block II and subsequently generate 4000 MWs of electricity in a phased manner and by adding the same into the national grid.

Under the resettlement framework, SECMC has shifted one out of two villages and settled 172 households of village Senhri Dars at New Senhri Dars. The model resettlement village is provided with 1100 yards of a bungalow to every married couple, 2 drinking water RO plants, modern education, and health facilities, metaled streets, streetlights, solar system for every housing unit, sewerage system, uninterrupted domestic water supply, playground, worship places, community centers, a market, and other basic amenities.

This has been done for the first time in the development history of Pakistan where the resettled communities have been handed over with 850 Acres of Gaucher land besides the fully equipped new resettlement village, said Ahmed Munib, Director Site Operations of SECMC.

“The project has also paid lifetime annual compensation of Rs.100000/= to each of the 172 households for the second year in a row,” he added.

Addressing the ceremony, Sami Sanjrani, Assistant Commissioner and Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) Islamkot Taulka said as per the law all the Gaucher lands available in Tharparkar belong to the government of Sindh.

“The SECMC has acquired additional lands to facilitate local communities for Gaucher and handed over the same for their livestock which has never done before anywhere in Pakistan,” he added.

Fayyaz Soomro, Manager Land Acquisition SECMC said that they had already deposited the required amount of land compensation with the concerned revenue authorities, and they have consequently paid 95 percent of the legitimate landowners.

The local community elder Nabi Bux Dars thanked the Government of Sindh and the SECMC for benefitting them with Gaucher facility for their livestock.

He said that they have sacrificed for the larger national interest to exploit coal and generate electricity and left ancestral houses. “All the families have shifted amicably and have also received annual compensation for the second year of resettlement,” he added.

The ceremony was attended by local community elders Abbas Dars, Taj Muhammad Dars, Jadam Dars, Jam Dars, Manzoor Dars, Anwar Ali Hingorjo, Mukhtiarkar Islamkot, and Mohsin Babbar and Muhammad Hingorjo of Thar Foundation.

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By GR Junejo

Islamkot: Distribution of annual compensation cheques among the resettled families in Thar Coal Block-2 started in village New Senhri Dars on Tuesday.

Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), on behalf of Government of Sindh provides an annual compensation of Rs.100000 to every family, every year as life-long support in recognition of their contribution of sacrificing their ancestral abodes for the project. This is second year compensation payment to the community.

Village Senhri Dars was resettled under mining project of Thar coal Block-2. The resettlement village was completed and the 172 Households community was resettled two years in advance in a graceful way. Each family received a separate house constructed over 1100 sq. yards. The village has been provided a school to accommodate more than 900 students, two RO plants, a park/playground, street lights, two community centers, a mosque, a temple, a dispensary, gauchar (grazing) land of 800 acres, market of 10 shops, electricity connection as well as solar system in every house, well-built metaled roads and streets at doorstep.

The resettlement process of village Senhri Dars in Thar Coal Block – II, district Tharparkar had taken place in early 2019.

The first group of families moved to New Senhri Dars Resettlement Village in January 2019. The new model village set a new benchmark of a successful model of resettlement in the country.

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FAO Country Representative Ms. Rebekah Olivia Bell visits Bio-saline Agriculture and Bio-saline Fisheries pilot projects being carried out by Thar Foundation and SECMC

By GR Junejo

Islamkot, Tharparkar: The Bio-saline Agriculture Models should benefit local communities in terms of livelihood betterments and develop linkages with the private sector, United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s Country Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Rebekah Olivia Bell said during her visit to Tharparkar.

Heading the FAO delegation, she witnessed Bio-saline Agriculture and Bio-saline Fisheries pilot projects being carried out by Thar Foundation and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) in Thar Coal Block II and Gorano area.

The FAO delegation included FAO senior officials Ashraf Ali, Amir Sultan, Ghulam Qadir Mangrio, Shariq Aziz, and Aamer Irshad.

The delegation was briefed on Apple Ber Orchards, Sindh’s largest private-sector saplings nursery, Thar Million Tree initiative, Green Park, and Gorano Pond where organic fisheries are being practiced. The delegation was also served cooked organic Gorano fish which has been declared fit for human consumption by a leading laboratory of Pakistan.

The delegation was told that the Bio-saline agriculture pilots were being carried out in collaboration with Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh and Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, and Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi.

It was further told that Thar has great potential for Bio-saline agriculture and fisheries, as 80 billion cubic meters of water with 5000-6000 TDS is available at the 3rd aquifer beneath the soil, which can be pumped out to water nutritive crops for human and livestock population.

Ms. Rebekah Olivia applauded the initiatives and thanked them for showing the initiatives and explaining ambitious models. “The work carried out is critical to the success of this area,” she commented.

She said, FAO provides technical assistance to the provincial and federal governments of Pakistan and has established its offices in Sindh to work closer in the areas of mutual interest.

Briefing the delegation about different initiatives, Thar Foundation and SECMC CEO, Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi said the all the community development initiatives undertaken by them have been linked with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We would like to aim at making Islamkot Taluka UN-SDG compliant by the year 2025,” said Rizvi. And for this purpose, he added that a comprehensive house-to-house survey has been carried out by Thar Foundation in consultation with UN-SDG Cell P&D Department and UNDP.

He said they have received successful outcomes under pilot projects of Bio-saline Agriculture and fisheries in Thar Desert, which needs to be scaled up with the support of Government of Sindh and technical expert support from organizations like FAO.

“We have planted 850,000 trees under Thar Million Tree Program and have also cultivated vegetables, fruits, moringa, multiple species of fodder like Rhodes Grass, Corn, and Jantar,” he added.

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