Protection of heritage higher priority than mining at Karoonjhar: CM Sindh

Sindh’s chief minister has said that the protection of cultural, religious and archaeological heritage at the Karoonjhar Mountains in District Tharparkar is his first and topmost priority before exploring the mining potential of different minerals, including granite, china clay, iron ore, fuller’s earth and gold.

CM Syed Murad Ali Shah said this on Thursday as he presided over a meeting of the mines & mineral department to discuss mining issues of the Karoonjhar Mountains.

The meeting was told that over 10 billion tonnes of granite deposits are available at the Karoonjhar Mountains, apart from vast reserves of china clay, iron ore, fuller’s earth and gold deposits.

On this the chief executive said that these huge deposits will bring prosperity in the province, particularly in the area, if they are tapped. “But before unlocking these reserves, we’ll have to safeguard and protect the cultural, religious and archaeological heritage in the mountains.”

Mines & Mineral Development Secretary Zulfiqar Shah informed the chair that the Karoonjhar Mountains cover the Dhingano Forest, the Karoonjhar Forest, the Sadorus Forest, the Karoonjhar Hills and the wildlife sanctuary.

The wildlife sanctuary has been declared over an area of 200,000 acres; creek or wildlife is on 84,090 acres; the Karoonjhar Hill spreads over 21,100 acres; the forest area over 18,704 acres; there are 28 dam sites over 17,930 acres and 20 archaeological sites 1,601 acres.

The protected area spreads over 49,186.46 acres and the mineral lease area over 31,480.58 acres, of which 8,128 acres are in the protected area. The area leased out for minerals includes 20,364 acres for china clay, 6,241.73 acres for granite, 4,073.93 acres for fuller’s earth and 800 acres for iron ore.

The CM said that all the cultural, historical, religious and potential tourism sites have to be excluded, and their sustainability has to be safeguarded. The forest land has to be excluded from the area in which mining for granite or any other mineral is proposed to be allowed, he added.

He said the licence or permit for granite mining in the Karoonjhar area, if granted, may be made conditional on the setting up of an industry within the limits of the Tharparkar district to ensure value addition, employment generation and positive social benefits from the activity.

He added that corporate social responsibility of the kind that had been observed by the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company would be an integral part of such permission, if and when it would be granted.

Shah directed the mines & mineral development department to prepare a draft policy, under which at least one third of the mining or permits may be reserved for the locals of District Tharparkar to ensure their inclusion and participation in the mining activity. He also directed the department to prepare the profile of the entire Karoonjhar Mountains and adjoining areas regarding the mineral reserves, their quantities and the facilities the government has to offer to potential investors.

It was pointed out that the Indian government is making billions of dollars from minerals being extracted from the part of the Karoonjhar Mountains that falls on that side of the border, and that they are exploiting the resources and selling granite all over the world.

The CM said Sindh can do that as well if all the protected areas are safeguarded. He directed the mines & mineral development department to present their detailed briefing for the cabinet so that an appropriate policy for mining can be formulated.

The provincial chief executive also directed the department to consult with all the stakeholders, including the locals, to help in the making of the draft policy for mineral extraction.

The meeting was also attended by Mines & Mineral Development Minister Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani, MPA Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Chairman Arif Ahmed Khan, CM’s Principal Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro and Mines & Mineral Development Director General Nawaz Sohu.