ISLAMKOT:Terming Thar Coal mining and power projects as future of Sindh, Sindh Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Nawab Taimur Talpur has said that the stringent regulation and monitoring has been placed to protect the environment of Thar.
During a visit to Thar Coal Block II mining, power projects, and community development projects on Monday, he said that in the wake of increased industrial activities in Thar, the environment department has taken stern measures to monitor and protect the environment and preserve natural habitat.
He was accompanied by Director General, Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Deputy Director SEPA, Imran Sabir. The minister was briefed by Umair Aslam Butt, Manager Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Mohsin Babbar, Manager CSR and Resettlement.
He visited Thar Coal Block II’s 3.8mpta mining and 660MWs power project, Biosaline agriculture fields, Sindh largest private sector nursery, New Senhri Dars Resettlement Village and Gorano reservoir area.
The minister was of the view that SECMC is an environment friendly company, which is taking care of its responsibilities in a professional manner. He said that the new resettlement village constructed to accommodate affectees of the coal mining project is a model development initiative of the government of Sindh. “The Thar Coal Block II public private partnership model of Sindh government and Engro is future of Sindh,” he said.
The minister praised the initiatives taken by SECMC to protect the environment and preserving the natural habitat of Thar, especially the development of Gorano reservoir, which has now become the habitat of migratory Siberian birds.
Earlier, briefing the minister on measures taken by SECMC to protect the environment, Umair Aslam Butt said, they are not only following the national environment protection laws but also implementing best international practices being followed in the developed world.
He said, the company has planted 550,000 saplings of local species like Neem, Babul, Kandi, Moringa, Roheero along with establishing Sindh’s largest private sector nursery of Sindh.
Briefing on community development initiatives taken under Thar Foundation, Mohsin Babbar, Manager CSR said, the project is implementing Pakistan’s best inclusive development model by setting a target to make Islamkot as first SDG-compliant Taulka of Pakistan.
He said, Thar Foundation has established 25 school units with 2300 children receiving a quality education, adding that 6 RO plants providing clean drinking water to 10,000 population of the area and 25000 patients were treated in two healthcare facilities during the year 2018.