February 04, 2008	Monday	Muharram 25, 1429

PESHAWAR, Feb 3: A rescue centre, being set up in Hangu for coal miners of the remote parts of the tribal territory, is most likely to fall short of providing the desired level of emergency cover to the workers as the one functioning on temporary basis in Orakzai Agency has failed to deliver, miners and owners said.

“A rescue centre is supposed to be in the proximity of the minefields, but the Directorate of Minerals, Fata, is establishing this facility far away,” an official said.

“The project is not feasible as the mines exist in the remote parts of Orakzai and Kurram regions and Darra Adamkhel,” he said. He stated that all over the world rescue centres were established near the mines to provide quick rescue and treatment to trapped workers.

The Directorate of Minerals, a subsidiary of the Fata Development Authority, had established a temporary rescue centre at the basic health unit in Garro area of Orakzai Agency about two years ago to provide emergency cover to the miners. The directorate had purchased machinery and equipment worth Rs15.7 million for the centre.

Now the directorate has decided to shift the centre to the neighbouring Hangu town. Work on the project has been initiated and an amount of Rs8 million had been allocated for the new rescue centre.