LARKANA: Local people are creating hindrances in the restoration of tombs of Mir Allahyar Talpur in the mountainous Drigh Bala village undertaken by the Endowment Fund Trust (EFT).

EFT sources and supervising staff at the site claimed that members of the local community were unnecessarily creating hurdles in the work on the old tombs of the Talpurs.

Meeral Abro, who was currently supervising the restoration work, told Dawn that out of the 14 big tombs situated in the graveyard stretching over 10 acres, 12 had been brutally damaged by people.

Initially, the EFT under a phased allocation of Rs1 million had kicked off the work, said Ishtiaq Ansari, regional coordinator of the EFT.

In the first phase, the big ditches carved out by the strong current of Nai Gaaj [a natural fall] which flows very close to the site, were filled to avoid to some extent future onslaught of the Nai Gaaj flow, Mr Ansari said.

Now under the second phase, the restoration work on the tombs was started, he said, adding that the EFT had initially chosen two big tombs on the graves of Mir Allahyar Talpur (the founder of Tando Allahyar district) and his close aide or relative Mir Mannik. He said the Talpurs after their migration in the 17th century from Dera Ismail Khan had made Drigh Bala their first headquarters.

Meeral Abro narrating the story of obstructions and threats by local people said the site was situated in a remote area and it was difficult to reach there. It was quite depressing that local people had not only caused damage to the tombs, but also allegedly dug up the graves in search of gold, he said.

On his arrival at the site, they threatened him to stop work or face consequences, he said. People living in the neighbourhood frequently visited the site and demanded either to recruit local people for the job or pay extortion money, but he plainly refused, he said.

“Neither I am a contractor nor [do I] have the tendency to pay extortion money to carry on work,” he told them in clear terms.

When contacted, the EFT personnel confirmed the situation. However, they added “we have the experience of working against the wind.”

Within six months, both tombs — on the graves of Mir Allahyar Talpur and Mir Mannik — would be restored, Mr Ansari said.

Mr Ansari and Mr Abro said that small-sized bricks were used in the old construction of the tombs, therefore specific bricks were being purchased from Hyderabad to restore the old relics in their original shape.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2020