KARACHI – The results of Long Water Pump Test at Block-2 of Thar Coal Fields have revealed that the amount of ground water will not be sufficient to serve as a single source for long term use as the bottom aquifer is of limited extent.
On advice of international water consultants a month-long water pump test was conducted at Block-2 in the Thar Coal Fields to determine the quantity of ground water, quality of ground water and its supply variability with time, well efficiency, and effects of pumping on the aquifer.
This was disclosed by Secretary Coal and Energy Development Department Aijaz Ali Khan speaking to the Project Steering Committee of Thar Coal and Power Technical Assistance Project (TC and PTAP) in its meeting held on February 22, 2011.
Furthermore, the Project Management Unit (PMU) of TCAP has fulfilled some of the initial requirements of this project which include drafting the Sindh Coal Policy, Thar Coal and Energy Board Act and Interim Resettlement Policy for Thar Coalfields. In addition, it has developing GIS for Thar Coalfields, conducted the aforementioned water pump test, developing Information Memorandum for ICB of Blocks I, III-B, IV and VII, and framing of term of references for the Water Master Plan and Environmental and Social Studies, Land Use Plan and Resettlement Framework for Thar Coalfields.
The rationale of drafting coal policy is that without an appropriate national coal policy, investors will have to rely on the national minerals policy, which is not sufficiently relevant to the conduct of coal operations in Sindh and Pakistan which must be implemented in a technically modern and fiscally favorable manner.
Similarly, the rationale of TCEB Act was to provide enhanced legal status to this Board as a body corporate through and Act of Provincial Legislature, so that it would serve as a permanent one-stop lead institution for over all development of Thar Coal Basin in Sindh. The funding of the board shall consist of grants and subsidies received from government or any local body; loans raised or obtained by the Board with the approval of government in accordance with law; and fee and other charges receivable under this Act, if any.
In addition, the rationale of Interim Resettlement Framework Guidelines was to initiate the mining process, consequential implications and non-availability of any Resettlement Policy. The framework designed in this regard include avoiding involuntary resettlement; improvement in the living standard of the project affected people with priority given to the gainful employment of the people of Thar and access to the training, project development as a part of rehabilitation process to invest in education and technical training to ensure preparation of local community into coal industry related job markets; transparent compensation; and damage compensation for both assess lost and relocation.
The salient features of Geographic Information System (GIS) for Thar coal fields include preparation of 3-D digital elevation model, preparation of digital base map, multi-spectral satellite imageries of coal fields; preparation of Geo database model, land use plan and GIS software, integrated environmental and social data monitoring system, web portal, geotechnical data integration and topography and demand-supply assessment geospatial model.
Eventually the environmental consultant of the TCAP conducted a review of existing laws and developed forecasts in coal mining in Thar with mitigation guidelines. The salient features of the report are air emissions, liquid effluent and mine drainage, land disturbance, solid waste disposal, noise, occupational health and safety and biodiversity.
