They said that the two schemes, including feasibility studies of Thar coal's new extended blocks No XI, XII, and Linking Thar and other coalfield areas with Badin-Hyderabad section through a rail route, were approved by the competent forum ie Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) recently and were forwarded to the federal government for further process.
However, the federal government had once again interfered in the provincial matter and created resentment for the Sindh government authorities, they added. The TCEB was supposed to provide one-window facilities to the foreign investors for speedy development of the Sindh's coal reserves, they said, adding that centre's interference in this time again had created many doubts.
The continued interference by the centre would ultimately affect the huge investments by various multinational companies on Thar coal, which would prove harmful for the whole nation, sources said. The development work on these two schemes is to be carried out by the Sindh government while the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources would only provide financial assistance worth Rs 1000 million, they said.
Sources said TCEB Managing Director Ajaz Ali Khan forwarded a letter to the federal government urging it to transfer these two schemes to the Sindh government for proper and direct execution. It was also requested to transfer Rs 1000 million provided by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources as Production Bonus to the provincial government at the earliest so that the development of Thar coal could continue on fast track basis without any hindrances, they further said.
When asked about the reluctance by the centre to return the schemes, sources said that the Sindh government would directly approach the President and Prime Minister for their intervention in the matter, if the matter was not resolved within a few days.