MITHI, April 22: Representatives of NGOs and social activists have urged the government and coal exploration companies to devise a comprehensive policy and address fears of people living in villages along the coal belt for centuries.

Addressing a gathering organised by the Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) here on Saturday, they expressed serious reservations over the coal exploration work in Thar.

TRDP chairman Dr Nasir Mohammad Nizamani called for consultations with local people on the process, instead of framing policies in drawing rooms. The policy-makers should give serious thought to people’s fears, he said.

He emphasised close coordination among government departments, NGOs and other stakeholders on development projects.

Zafar Junejo, chief executive officer of the TRDP, said that coal reserves had raised hopes about prosperity among the poor people of Thar.

Inhabitants of several villages along the coal belt who depended on livestock and agriculture feared the coal exploration through open-pit mining would cause their displacement on a large scale, he said. He said that no compensation was being paid to the affected villagers for their fields which had already been taken over for coal projects. The poor people were unaware of the government policy about resettlement and, therefore, the policy-makers should inform them about the policy in this regard, he said.

Social worker Obhayo Junejo said that coal companies should provide jobs to Tharis and follow a method which did not create environmental pollution or adversely affected quality of groundwater.

Ali Akbar Rahoomo, Gotam Rathi, Bharu Mal Amrani and Prof Noor Ahmed Janjhi also addressed the gathering.