KOHAT, June 18: The NWFP’s only rescue centre for miners — established in the Orakzai Agency for 8,000 coal workers — has been without a doctor for years, Dawn has learnt.

There are more than 1,000 coal mines in the Sheikhan area, 40km northwest of Kohat, where, according to last year’s survey, 8,000 workers work at the depth of 1,200 to 1,400 feet, which commonly causes incidents of suffocation and other diseases.

An injured worker, Gul Arif of Dir, said the Orakzai Agency administration, which charged Rs250 tax per truck, had approved a colony near the mines for the rescue centre staff but there was no plan to provide residential, medical, educational and recreational facilities for miners and their families. The workers have also been demanding appointment of a lady doctor for years.

The daily production from the mines is 90 to 100 truckloads per day, from which the mineral department gets a substantial amount as tax.

Each worker is paid Rs400 per day, but in case of his death or injury the contractor provides nominal financial help to his family.

The administration, which earned more than Rs22,500 per day as revenue, was doing nothing for the welfare of the workers, a miner complained.

Engineer Fazl-i-Rabbi, the official in charge of the rescue centre, also expressed concern over lack of essential facilities at the mines.

He said the patients had to be brought to the Kohat Development Authority Divisional Medical Complex in case of emergency and some critically injured miners had to be taken to Peshawar. He said the appointment of a doctor by the contactor or the political administration at the rescue centre was necessary.

He said the centre had all other essential facilities, like first aid, oxygen, dispenser and an ambulance.