MITHI, July 31: Mineral resources legally are provincial subject and the federal government has no right to abolish the Sindh Coal Authority and instead constitute Thar Coal and Energy Board, said an official of the Thar Coal Action Committee.

Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, Convener of the committee and also Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party’s Deputy General Secretary, Nandlal Malhi, said that huge coal reserves were discovered in Thar in 1992 but powerful government lobbies began hatching conspiracy, resulting in the failure of the Sindh government to retain the ownership of billions of tons of coal.

However, in 1993, the Pakistan People’s Party government established the Sindh Coal Authority through the Sindh Assembly to tackle the coal issue but vested interests continued working against the Authority, he said.

The PPP government in 1994 constituted Thar Coal Board, paving way for the federal government to gain control over Thar coal, he said adding that a decision was made to establish the coal-fired power plant in Karachi, instead.

The move, he said stirred those conscious of the repercussion who protested through the platform of Thar Coal Action Committee forcing the federal government to reverse its decision.

He alleged that the governments of President Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif from time to time announced of taking some action but no concrete decision could be made for the exploitation and exploration of Thar coal.

He lamented the federal government of trying to gain control of coal rather giving the benefit to the region and further termed the formation of Thar Coal Authority in the presence of Sindh Coal Authority unjustified and illegal.

Mr Malhi demanded abolishing Thar Coal Authority and Thar Coal and Energy Board and handing over the control of Thar’s Coal to the Sindh province.

BD MEN JAILED: District and sessions judge of Tharparkar Naimatullah Phulpoto on Thursday awarded two-year imprisonment and Rs1,000 fine to each of four Bangladeshi nationals for illegally entering into Pakistan from Indian side of border.

Mohammad Hassan, Reshamdin, Mohammad Kamal Hassan and Shamsul Islam were arrested by Rangers of Vingi post of

taluka Diplo when they entered Pakistani territory by crossing Indian border on September 25, 2007.

Rangers handed over them to Mithi police and a case was registered against them under Section 14(2) of Foreigners Act.

In case of non-deposit of fine, the accused will have to face more one month jail term.

Relevant authorities have been asked by the court that at completion of jail term, the accused be sent back to Bangladesh through consultations with relevant federal authorities.