MITHI, Jan 9: Work on infrastructure development is going on at a fast pace for establishment of coal-based power plants in Tharparkar which would boost the economy of the country and also bring the sandy region at par with the more developed parts of the country.

This was said by the provincial minister for mines, minerals and natural resources, Haji Mohammad Usman Malkani, at a meeting with officials and journalists here on Friday after a visit to the site near Islamkot.

Later, the minister inspected the ongoing construction work of a tank for the storage of 900,000 gallons of water for supply of sweet water to the coal area.

He also inspected the construction work of a 20km road from Islamkot to the site where work on laying power transmission lines had already been completed. The minister said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf was taking keen interest in the mega Thar coal project and directed the departments concerned to make maximum efforts to start the project at the earliest and added that the prime minister would soon be given a comprehensive briefing about the project.

Regarding the resettlement of the people of Thar, who would be displaced because of the project, Mr Malkani said a policy was under consideration under which adequate compensation would be paid to the displaced people besides their resettlement.

He announced a donation of Rs10,000 for the Mithi Press Club. The minister also urged elected representatives to make efforts for provision of electricity and gas to various villages of Thar which had remained backward in the past.