UMERKOT: People coming from 13 villages situated in Tharcoal project`s blocks 1 and 2 took out a rally on Monday to register their protest over what they called, `systematic exploitation` of local residents by the companies engaged in exploration in the Tharparkar region.

Raising slogans and holding banners inscribed with slogans against the companies, the protesters complainedthatresidentsofthese areas were being displaced and deprived of their livelihoods.

They deplored that the environment was being destroyed in the name of bringing about prosperity and development in the region.

The participants came from Varwai, Talwayo, Gorano, Sunhari Daras, Tharyo Halepota, Bitrra, Jaman Samoon, Kharyo Ghulam Shah, Jaindo Daras, Dhukarchhoand other villages.

They marched through the streets of Islamkot and held a sit-in during their protest, which was organised by the Bheel Intellectual Forum (BIF).

The BIF leaders, speaking to the participants, said that the dislocated families were denied compensation against their lands and livelihoods, employment in exploration firms and basic amenities as had been promised to them before executing the project.

`We were told that this coal project would change our lives but, as a matter of fact, it has taken away our homes, graveyards and worship places, besides destroying our lands and leaving us struggling to survive,` theymoaned.

BIF president Advocate Lala Bheel drew government`s attention to the injustices being done to local residents ever since the coalprojectwas launched. He said that the project, which was supposed to transform Pakistan`s energy sector, had benefited only a selected group of elite while leaving Thar`s indigenous population in a state of deprivation.

He recalled that the authorities concerned had promised creating jobs, improving infrastructure and bringing about prosperity to this underdeveloped region but none of these promises had been fulfilled as yet.

The affected villagers said that mining operations had disrupted the region`s ecosystem, contaminated water sources and degraded the lands. Livestock, which many Tharis depend on for their livelihood, had been adversely affected by pollution, they said, pointing out that traditional grazing grounds were being destroyed.