Jhimpir, a quiet town about a hundred kilometres from Karachi, is buzzing with activity as we make our way to see the windmill project that is shortly to be inaugurated. Passing by the wind turbines, we come to the main entrance to the site where a fleet of cars are parked and a few men are busy inspecting the site where the helicopter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to land.

Soon, though, the men are informed that the head of government will no longer be visiting, with federal ministers Abid Sher Ali and Khwaja Asif representing him instead.

This windy location and many others in and around Thatta district are home to some 29 companies, Thatta assistant commissioner Dr Imran Hassan tells us.

Read: Operation of Jhimpir wind turbines offers a ray of hope in power gloom

The one being inaugurated now is the project of China International while others include projects by a Turkish company named Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Ltd, Three Gorges and Fauji Fertiliser Company Energy Ltd.

“With the capacity to generate 400 megawatts, this turbine will generate 50 megawatts from today and will gain momentum onwards,” he explains. “The best thing about wind projects is their ability to generate electricity with no effect on the environment. Also, it is cheap and the most efficient way of generating energy worldwide.”

Around the town that falls under the Gharo-Keti Bunder wind energy corridor, though, farmers and others are protesting about losing land to the huge turbines. Some of the locals are protesting near a wall in the main city of Jhimpir, their main grievance being that their land was taken away to make way for the projects. But what they mention a bit late is that most of the agreements over land made by them, or their elders, were done verbally.

Also read: Forty-five wind power projects under process: minister

Sikander Jamali, an engineering student at the Mehran University, complains: “We were told that our people will get jobs in the companies producing energy, but not many were hired. Instead, men from Karachi, Hyderabad, Okara and Lahore were employed.” Asked if most youngsters in Jhimpir have the skill and training required to work at these companies, he concedes that “the majority don’t”, but adds that even so, local youngsters should get the jobs depending on the agreements with the company owners.

Another group within this protest party is demanding money for their land being used to accommodate the turbines. “We don’t have the required documents, I agree,” says Afzal Sattar Brohi from the nearby Yaqoob Brohi village, “but that doesn’t allow them to usurp my property without paying me”. He adds that at present, he is taking care of his land for the company on a Rs10,000 salary. The farmers say that some people have moved the Sindh High Court in Karachi and the sessions court in Thatta over the issue.

When the question is posed to the assistant commissioner, Dr Hassan, he says such grievances will “give a bad name to the country”. He says no one is running away with the land owned by the farmers. “What they don’t understand is that the majority of the land around Jhimpir was sold out on lease some 10 to 12 years ago. Now that the lease has expired, the government can legally cultivate the land according to its use.” He adds that the land that was owned by the people has been paid for by the companies as well as the government.

A few kilometres ahead, nestled amidst medical and general stores, is the home of Rasool Bux Dars, a revered community elder and writer. Bedridden due to illness, he explains the process of land deals in Kohistan. “Let me clarify, first, that we are not against development at all. This windmill will be really beneficial to us. What we are against is the usurping of land without compensation being paid. Some companies constructed the much-needed maternity homes around the area for which we are eternally thankful. One of them built a basic health facility. When so much can be done, then why not pay for the land also?”

He adds that the process of making a verbal deal is called mahago in the Kohistan areas. Such agreements, he adds, don’t need documents. “The problem is, people from the cities come here for production and think paying the locals a mere five per cent of the share is enough. We still don’t have electricity and water in some pockets of Jhimpir. I repeat, we don’t have a problem with the development but with the manner in which it is being carried out.”

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2015

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