29 September 2004	Wednesday	13 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 28: The Water and Power Development Authority will be purchasing electricity from the plants established and managed by Chinese firms at Thar from January next at significantly low rates, initially coming to less than five cents per unit.

Sindh Chief Secretary Mohammad Aslam Sanjrani said this on Tuesday at a seminar on 'Thar - Water Scarcity and Solutions'. Discussing the mineral resources in Thar region, where estimated coal reserves come to some 1.75 billion tons, coupled with one billion ton of china clay and almost an equal amount of granite, Mr Sanjrani said a comprehensive approach was being adopted to make optimum use of all natural sources available there.

According to him, China has been given a contract to generate 300 mega watt electricity through a plant over a strip of coal mines spreading over an area of 52 square-Km. While the plant has started operating, negotiations are underway between the governments of the two countries to determine the cost of power, Wapda would be procuring from these plants during the next 50 years.

It was said that the initial cost, though a little higher but still less than at which electricity was presently available in the country, would further come down over the period of time.

While strongly defending the development taking place in the area, Mr Sanjrani maintained that infrastructure was prerequisite for the purpose, adding that the idea was not merely to exploit and explore resources but also to ensure that the benefit trickled down to the grassroots-level and economic activity was generated, directly benefiting the inhabitants.

He also mentioned that measures were being adopted to assess proposition for installation of small desalination plants in the region to help people get potable water.

He reminded that taking into stock the presence of three aquifers in the region, a strategy was being evolved for recharge ability of these. He also referred to the steps being taken to plan and introduce varied water conservation techniques in the area deprived of sweet water.

Highlighting the development work taking place in Thar, he said that it was only last year that Rs1.2 billion were spent on road construction work to connect Tharparkar with other parts of the province as well as developing linkage between different areas within the region itself.

With regard to girl education, he said the criteria for educational qualifications of teachers hired for schools in Tharparkar was being lowered and girls who had passed their matric or even eighth standard would be employed to teach at middle to primary levels.

In this context, he mentioned that educated but retired government employees above 60 years of age were also being re-employed. Highlighting the significance of livestock of Thari origin, he said the trend under which inhabitants of Tharparkar were exploited and compelled to sell off their animals was also being curtailed.

Talks were underway with an MNC to set up a fodder plant, following which a milk plant would also be established there, he said. Sindh Information Secretary Mehtab Rashdi, speaking on the occasion, emphasized the significance of adopting a balanced approach towards exploration of natural resources and their proper management with adequate provision for actual progress of the local people. Earlier, former Senator Javed Jabbar, Dr Ayub Qutub, Dr Sono Khangharani, Tanveer Arif, Sharafullah and others made their presentations. -APP