MITHI: The leaders and workers of Thar Samaji Tehreek along with the residents of the villagers took out three awareness rallies against the alleged callous and indifferent attitude of the officials of the coal mining companies and for the rights of the local people in Islamkot town of Tharparkar district on Sunday.
According to the details, rallies were taken out from the villages of Jaman Samoon, Bitra, and Thario Halepoto. Thar Samaji Tehreek leaders Amer Hassan Rahimoon, Rasool Bux Samoon , Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Deedar Lanjo, Naseer Noon, and others led the participants of the rallies.
Lal Mohammad Samoono, Naseer Samooon, Mataro Samoon, Ramoon Bheel, and others addressed the rally in village Jaman Samooon.
They said that the Sindh Engo Coal Mining Company (SECMC) had neglected the affected people of the village while they had supported some people with vested interests. They alleged that residents of the village were also badly affected but officials of Thar Foundation did not bother to provide them the required facilties under CSR They are in dire need of drinking water, as the water wells have dried up while people and livestock have become thirsty with no water” they added.
They were protesting for the last one year, but neither the elected representatives were listening to them nor the officials of the Thar Foundation were ready to even meet them.They demanded that they should be provided water for everyday use and the RO. plants be installed for the purpose of drinking water.
Another awareness rally was taken out from the village Bitra Amri Dhani to Kheme’s Dhani. Participants included Rano Bheel, Paro Bheel, Shankar Bheel, and others. They vowed to continue the protests for their rights under the umbrella of Thar Samaji Tehreek.
The third rally was taken out from the village Thario Halepoto and the participants of the rally protested against the acquisition of land by Sindh Engro Mining Company in Thario Halepoto and Pabohar. The participants alleged the land was being occupied by the company to provide grazing lands locally called Gaunchers to the residents of village New Senhri Dars and there were chances that the villagers came into conflict with each other.
They said that officials of the mining firm had been trying to create the serious differences among the villagers of Tharyo Halepoto and New Senhari Dars by allocating the grazing lands of Tharyo Halepoto to the ‘displaced’ residents of Senhari Dars village.
Abdul Aziz Qadri, Saleem Halepoto, Hafiz Mohammad Ramazan, and others addressed the rally.
The protesters alleged that the company had hatched a conspiracy to make them homeless. They said that they refused any resettlement plan with the officials of the mining companies saying they would not leave their lands and houses.
Thar Samaji Tehreek leaders said if the Thar coal companies failed to provide justice to the local affected people, they would continue the peaceful rallies and marches till the achievement of their goal, which was justice for the local people.
Despite the repeated attempts no responsible officials from the mining company could be contacted by this reporter for the official version on the ongoing protests by the villagers.
According to the most credible sources, the media cell of the firm has ceased to function due to alleged serious differences among the executives and officials on some people posted at the key posts in the company . The same sources claimed that executives of the firm, after sidlining some people on the key positions, were now trying to sack them.
