HYDERABAD: University students belonging to Tharparkar district along with a number of residents of Islamkot -- the Thar coal project’s block-II site -- on Sunday held a demonstration outside the local press club demanding immediate shifting of the saline water reservoir from Gorano village to avoid the hazardous effects feared to be caused to public health and farming.
Speaking to the protesters, Nehal Chand, Dr Sajjan, Sandesh Ramani, Pardeep Saghar and others expressed concern over the fast pace of work for the reservoir despite serious reservations expressed and a series of protest demonstration held by the area people over the past few months in different parts of the province, including Karachi. “The site is not being shifted even after an assurance given by provincial minister Dr Khatumal Jeewan to the area people that their reservations will be addressed,” they said. Even the chief minister met parliamentarians from the area but without any results, they added.
The students, studying in the Mehran, Liaquat, Sindh and agriculture universities apprised the media of all apprehensions associated with the reservoir and its location.They said the population of at least a dozen villages and hundreds of acres of farmlands would be affected by the hazardous water of the reservoir.
“Local population had never been taken into confidence for laying the reservoir for which around 2,700 acres of land is projected to be used,” they said.
They said the hazardous water was bound to destroy or badly affect around 20,000 livestock, 200,000 trees, five graveyards and 20 natural waterways/ponds, besides posing a threat to the health of around 15,000 local people. “If laid at its present location, the reservoir would deprive these people of their sources of livelihood.
They proposed six alternative sites including Ehsan Shah Ka Pir, Jhangro, Sundar Ka Run, Gorhiar Dahar and Wali Ka Dahar for the reservoir.
MITHI: Men and women along with their children continued their protest for the 17th consecutive day over the laying of the reservoir next to their villages and farmlands in Islamkot.
They have pitched a camp outside the Islamkot press club where they turn up daily and keep raising slogans in favour of their demand intermittently. Leaders of various political parties, nationalist groups and civil society organisations visit them to express their solidarity with the protesters.
Mohammed Usman, Govind Meghwar, Ms Momal, Ms Gaga Meghwar and others sitting at the camp told local reporters on Sunday that the work on laying the reservoir was in full swing despite the fact that a petition against it was pending before the Sindh High Court
They noted that the leaders visiting and assuring them of their support included Senator Gayanchand, MNA Fakeer Sher Mohammad Bilalani and MPA Dr Mehesh Kumar Malani but the government was indifferent to the grievance of the local population.
However, they said, they would continue their protest until the location of the reservoir was changed to an alternative place identified by their representatives.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2016
