The need for transparency

Resentment is rife about certain aspects of the government plan to set up wind power projects in Thatta district's Gharo wind corridor. That came out clearly at a special event, 'Public Hearing', held at Jhimpir the other day where the Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy, Askari Taqvi, talked of the progress being made on the various windmill projects, and local residents expressed their concern over the manner of the progress.
The minister said that as part of the efforts to generate low cost electricity from wind and solar power, a windmill project is being set up in Jhimpir, and more plants of 250 MWT are to be launched in Gharo, Mirpur Sakro and some other locations as well. 93 companies have already been issued letters of intent, while another 22 have been allotted land.
11 companies have completed their feasibility studies and are negotiating tariff with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. This is welcome news at a time the country is confronting a serious power crisis. The local people are supportive of these projects but are apprehensive about the way the land is being leased to various companies.
Participants in the 'Public Hearing', pointed out that the Alternative Energy Board, which had been handed a substantial amount of land for sub-leasing to power companies in the Gharo wind corridor, including the Jhimpir union council, did not observe transparency in making land allotments. Hence the concern that the land could be used for purposes other than the ones for which it was meant.
The participants also alleged that the terms of land use agreed upon by certain companies vis-a-vis benefits for the local people were not being implemented. Some also raised the royalty issue citing the examples of NWFP and Balochistan. These are all familiar complaints heard so many times before in different parts of the country.
What needs to be noteworthy here about the previous instances is the fact that they are a constant source of public discontent and unnecessary controversies. It is important, therefore, for the government to address these complaints in a timely fashion. It is hoped that the minister went back from the Jhimpir 'Public Hearing' with a resolve to ensure that transparency is observed in all alternative energy plans.
It hardly needs saying that observing transparency in public sector projects is imperative to avoid any real or imagined wrongdoing. That is also essential to increase public confidence in such schemes. A review of the present projects is in order to ensure that the land use is fair and proper, and other project obligations are also being duly met.