Thatta/Sonda Coalfield: feasibility study contract on development of mining awarded

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah awarded exploring licenses to Sindh Lakhra Coal Mining Company (SLCMC) for 20,000 acres at Thatta/Sonda where the company will conduct feasibility study for development of mining. Shah made this decision, presiding over the 30th Sindh Coal Authority (SCA) Board meeting at the CM House, here on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by SCA board's members, MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio, Khairunnissa Mughal, Dr Mahesh Kumar, chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to the CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Energy Agha Wasif, Secretary Finance Jahangir, DG Sindh Coal Authority Arjan Kumar and other concerned officers.
Sindh Chief Minister said that significant coal reserves are available at small coal fields of Sonda, Jhimpir, Lakhra, Indus East and Badin but major mining activity is going on at Lakhra while limited activity is in progress at Jhimpir. Therefore, he directed Sindh Lakhra Coal Mining Company (SLCMC) to initiate projects there.
After thorough discussion, Murad Shah approved awarding exploration license to SLCMC for 20,000 acres at Thatta/Sonda to conduct feasibility study for development of mining project.
Since the construction of roads was not the job of SCA, being chairman of SCA board, he accorded approval to transfer all its ongoing road sector schemes to Works and Services Department and also abolished four positions of SCA engineers, including of chief engineer SCA.
The chief minister also abolished the positions of chief engineer, superintendent engineer, executive engineer, assistant director (engineering) and of protocol officer of the SCA that was required for roads-related schemes. With the abolition of these posts there would be a saving of Rs 6.24 million, annually. On the recommendation of SCA, the board approved creation of some positions such as assistant director (Finance) BS-17, deputy director (mining) BS-18 and also upgraded the positions of steno/senior scale steno/PA/APS/PS and of computer operators in higher grade.
Sindh CM was told SCA had earned Rs 560 million under royalty and Cess in the years 2015-16 & 2016-17. Sindh Coal Authority requested the chief minister to enhance the annual grant in aid of SCA from Rs 50 million to Rs 90 million. Keeping in view the performance and scope of the SCA, he enhanced its grant to Rs 100 million with effect from June 1, 2018.