August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

MITHI, Aug 3: Speakers at an All-Parties Conference on “Save Thar Coal” on Sunday accused ‘vested interests’ in the federal bureaucracy of conspiring to gain control of Thar coal reserves and urged the Sindh government to fully empower the Sindh Coal Authority to manage coal exploration.

Nandlal Malhi, convener of Thar Coal Action Committee and deputy general secretary of Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party alleged that the past governments could not take any decision on Thar coal because a power lobby among federal bureaucrats obstructed the plan.

He contended that it was a universally accepted fact that coal or other minerals were a provincial subject hence a province should be free to make whatever decisions it deemed fit to manage issues related to minerals.

He called for strengthening Sindh Coal Authority and installing all the power plants or other projects in Thar, giving royalty to Sindh and Thar and providing jobs to locals.

He demanded that the government should devise a comprehensive policy to compensate and resettle the Tharis, who were likely to be displaced from coal belts.

Faqir Mukim Kumbhar, president of Mithi chapter of Sindh National Front, alleged that some vested interests at federal level were conspiring to gain control of Thar coal against the interests and welfare of Sindh and Thar but Tharis would foil their conspiracies.

Allah Bux Hingorjo, president of Mithi chapter of Pakistan People’s Party, stressed that the PPP government was determined to start work on coal projects in Thar and it would never take any step against the interests of Sindh or Thar.

Vishan, general secretary of Marooara Coordination Network, urged that the Sindh Coal Authority be restored and reactivated and demanded that Sindh be given 100 per cent representation on Sindh Coal Authority. The conference formed a five-member ad hoc committee of Thar Coal Action Committee on this occasion.