August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

MITHI, Aug 3: Members of the Thar Coal Energy Board on Sunday rejected allegations that Sindh government was handing over control of Thar coal to the federal government as baseless propaganda and said the federal as well as provincial governments were determined to get work on exploration of coal started.

Board members, Information Minister Shazia Marri, Revenue Minister Murad Ali Shah, Irrigation Minister Saifullah Dharejo, technical expert Asad Ali Shah and adviser to chief minister on minerals and mines Dr Khattumal Jeevan, told journalists at the Circuit House here that some vested interests and remnants of the previous government were levelling the allegations.

Shazia Marri said that Sindh Coal Authority had been constituted by Sindh Assembly and the federal government’s notification to abolish it had no importance.

She said that it was difficult to get work on a mega project like Thar coal completed without approval and assistance of federal government, hence six members of Thar coal and energy board had been taken from Sindh and the rest had been taken from the federal government.

Sindh chief minister who was chairman of the board had already apprised the federal government about the reservations of Sindh government with regard to Thar coal issue and Sindh Coal Authority, she added.

Benazir Bhutto had herself performed the ground-breaking ceremony of Thar coal reserves in 1995 and the prime minister had also made it clear that he would never ignore the interests of Sindh as well as the country, she said.