Earmarking coal royalty for development of Thar under consideration

HYDERABAD: Following a proposal of the Thar Foundation, a non-profit organization of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), Sindh Government is considering to earmark royalty of Tharparkar's coal exclusively for development of the backward desert region.

“Since coal production from Thar Coal Block II will commence later this year, the government is considering a proposal to earmark Thar Coal royalty for the region of Thar through Thar Foundation,” revealed Shamsuddin Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SECMC and Thar Foundation in a statement issued here on Saturday.

“We can demonstrate effective functioning of all the non-functional Reverse Osmosis (RO) drinking water plants of taluka Islamkot after handover to the Thar Foundation,” said Shaikh.

He said bio-saline agriculture could be used to stop migration from Thar and turn the region into an unprecedented land of economic opportunities.

Sharing about the progress of the mining and power plant projects, Shaikh was of the view that the company had successfully saved $150 million of the project cost and completion time of 4 months ahead of the schedule.

He said that they would be able to commercially extract coal from October 20, and that the first electron from the 330MWs would be produced on December 31.

The CEO said the second phase of the coal excavation would start by mid of this year.

He apprised that without governmental or international funding the Thar Foundation was already carrying out development works in Tharparkar and for the community with a portfolio of Rs.4.5 billion.

He added that through the funds the initiatives like 10 schools for 5000 children, a 250-bed hospital and 2 medical clinics, drinking water schemes, women empowerment programs, disaster management projects and livelihood opportunities had been taken.