Linking Thar with coal areas by rail: Sindh reluctant to pay Rs 39.6 million to Railways

The Sindh government seems reluctant to clear the outstanding dues of at least Rs 39.6 million of the Ministry of Railways. The delay in payment is hindering the progress on the coal reserves of Thar and Badin coalfields, Business Recorder has learnt.
According to sources, the Sindh government had written a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Railways on June 26, 2010 for conducting feasibility study to establish a broad-gauge railway line for Thar and other coalfields of the province. The Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services Limited (PRACS), a subsidiary of Pakistan Railways, was entrusted with the job of feasibility study for linking Thar coalfields with the main railway line, they said.
They said that the firm, along with Sindh Coal Authority officials, carried out preliminary survey for examining possibility of providing rail connectivity from Vervai/Islamkot to the appropriate station on Badin-Hyderabad section of Pakistan Railway to avoid larger route length.
The firm also carried out survey to provide rail link to Sindh's other coalfields such as Korio Gahnawer, Khor Wah, district Badin, Mulla Katiar, district Tando Muhammad Khan and Sonda, Jhirk, Thatta district in the month of July, they added. They said the same consultant firm had also carried out reconnaissance field survey and identified at least seven rail routes in 2005.
The firm recommended Varvai-lslamkot-Mithi-Naukot-Mirpurkhas-Hyderabad as the best route as it connects all important locations like Islamkot, Mithi and Hyderabad. The selected route was also approved by a railway committee. A presentation of the route was also given to the chief minister who had also approved it, they said.
Sources said that a presentation on this project was made by the Managing Director to the Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah on February 9, 2010, adding that the PRACS had already submitted the preliminary survey report and PC-II for linking Thar and other coal mines with main railway line ie Lahore-Karachi. However, the consultancy fee amounting to Rs 22.9 million had not been paid to the PRACS, they added.
Former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, who attended the meeting last month, had also instructed the consultancy firm to undertake the feasibility study for design and survey of the shortest route from Thar Coalfields to Karachi Port. The PRACS is yet to be paid Rs 22.9 million for the job already completed and report submitted to the Sindh government but the matter was being delayed by the provincial authorities, they alleged.
Sources said that no progress has been made during last three months, giving the impression that the Sindh government's authorities were reluctant to accelerate the pace for developing province's coal reserves and take the country out of the persisting energy crisis.