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A grand KHOON BAHA ceremony was conducted in Lora Lai on 3 Feb 09 under the patronage of Army, which was attended by the Tribal Leaders from the Luni and Marri Tribe.
The ceremony was the second one in the chain of a series of similar meetings, the first one being held in July last year.
The occasion was graced by Brig____ and was a show put up by Lt Col ____.
Now a few words about the background of this event.
Khoon Baha is a tradition being followed by the tribes of Balochistan and NWFP in order to compensate for the murder of an individual. It can be compared with the custom of Diyaat in Islam.
Now a few words about Chamalang, I thought it would be better to get you people a few links for the purpose:
Chamalang The Gold Valley
The largest coalmines in Asia and the 2nd largest in the world situated in Loralai District and Dukki Tehsil. The property is owned by LONI Tribe (PASHTOONS) several wars have been fought for the cause b/w Loni & Muri Tribes but always the Muri tribe had to face the defeat! now the field is under military control and coal is being mined under an estimate 30000 tons per month from the field by the Loni tribe!
Some more facts:
Chamalang mountain range is situated about 40-45 KMs north of Kohlu in tehsil Duki of Balochistan province. The reserves are spread over at an area of 7x60 KMs. The Chamalang coal mines due to fine quality of coal and its availability close to surface has the potential to generate significant economy activities in the area including employment capacity, revenue generation to the stakeholders and the government.
It is believed that the coal mining activities would benefit people of the area and would ensure peaceful/friendly environment for development, thereby enhancing the public confidence people friendly policies of the federal and provincial governments. It has been learnt that the project has generated employment for approximately 40,000 individuals. Has the production capacity of initially about 6000 tons per day once only two companies started excavation. However on its full operational sation, excavation of approximately 25,000 tons coal worth Rs. 100 million per day is expected.. The coal was being explored 500 feet below the surface in the Sorenj and Digari coalfields while the fine quality of coal would be available even from less than 20 feet depth in Chamalang coalfield.
Capacity of Chamalang coal mines -DAWN - National; March 07, 2007
Capacity of Chamalang coal mines
By Amanullah Kasi
QUETTA, March 6: Major Gen Mohammad Farooq of 12 Corps said that the Chamalang coal mines, which were now operational following the tripartite agreement between the Marri and Luni tribes and mine contractors, had the capacity to produce coal worth Rs30 billion per annum.
An official statement issued here on Tuesday said that Gen Farooq during his interaction with the people of Kohlu had invited fugitives and marginalised persons to join the path of prosperity and development instead of impairing government efforts.
He asserted that the main advantage of this project was that education facility would be provided to 300 students by the army, adding that the package included free education, books, uniforms, stationery and a Rs500-monthly stipend.
He said the army in the initial stage would bear the cost; however, later at an appropriate time, it would be managed through the Chamalang development fund.
The Chamalang mines were closed 30 years back after a dispute over ownership between the Luni and the Murri tribes.
The Luni and Marri Tribes of Balochistan have been in great dispute over the distribution of mineral extracts and the land itself since long. They have been killing each other and making use of all kind of procedure in order to harm the other tribe.
It included killing and kidnapping of individuals, planting mines, abducting animals of the other tribe and snatching of vehicles. Locals considered the re-opening of the coal mine at Chamalang impossible. Many attempts had been made by the civilian govt and many others but all the efforts were in vain.
People were being killed and the entire area was in chaos, not to mention about the loss that was being incurred by our country due to the closure of the Coal Field!
Then came the Army, a rigorous campaign was started by the Army to get both the tribes patch together and let go of their issues. Contractors were also got hold of as they were never ready to come back and work for the coal mines due to the dangerous situation that has been created.
Now as the mines are operational again, they benefits have stated reaching the local peoples. A few are mentioned below:
- Free provision of schooling to children. Currently 3000 students are getting education. The students are also provided with free books, uniforms, stationery and a Rs 500-monthly stipend, all being funded by the coal mines.
- Provision of money as Khoon Baha to the relatives of the people who were either murdered or died as a result of firing or mine plantation by the either tribes. Rs 2 Crore were distributed last year, today Rs 1.5 Crore have been distributed to the relatives, again all odf this have been funded by the coal mines.
- Construction of Labour Colonies for the 50000-men labour that works at the mines.
- Construction of roads towards the mines thus connecting to the rest of Pakistan.
All the above mentioned projects and programs are being supervised by the Army, except that NO MONEY is involved directly for the Army. The Army just instructs the contractors and the money is directly given to the individuals by the civilian administration, to include the DCO, DPO, the Dept of Mines and Minerals and local Sardars!
The ceremony was the second one in the chain of a series of similar meetings, the first one being held in July last year.
The occasion was graced by Brig____ and was a show put up by Lt Col ____.
Now a few words about the background of this event.
Khoon Baha is a tradition being followed by the tribes of Balochistan and NWFP in order to compensate for the murder of an individual. It can be compared with the custom of Diyaat in Islam.
Now a few words about Chamalang, I thought it would be better to get you people a few links for the purpose:
Chamalang The Gold Valley
The largest coalmines in Asia and the 2nd largest in the world situated in Loralai District and Dukki Tehsil. The property is owned by LONI Tribe (PASHTOONS) several wars have been fought for the cause b/w Loni & Muri Tribes but always the Muri tribe had to face the defeat! now the field is under military control and coal is being mined under an estimate 30000 tons per month from the field by the Loni tribe!
Some more facts:
Chamalang mountain range is situated about 40-45 KMs north of Kohlu in tehsil Duki of Balochistan province. The reserves are spread over at an area of 7x60 KMs. The Chamalang coal mines due to fine quality of coal and its availability close to surface has the potential to generate significant economy activities in the area including employment capacity, revenue generation to the stakeholders and the government.
It is believed that the coal mining activities would benefit people of the area and would ensure peaceful/friendly environment for development, thereby enhancing the public confidence people friendly policies of the federal and provincial governments. It has been learnt that the project has generated employment for approximately 40,000 individuals. Has the production capacity of initially about 6000 tons per day once only two companies started excavation. However on its full operational sation, excavation of approximately 25,000 tons coal worth Rs. 100 million per day is expected.. The coal was being explored 500 feet below the surface in the Sorenj and Digari coalfields while the fine quality of coal would be available even from less than 20 feet depth in Chamalang coalfield.
Capacity of Chamalang coal mines -DAWN - National; March 07, 2007
Capacity of Chamalang coal mines
By Amanullah Kasi
QUETTA, March 6: Major Gen Mohammad Farooq of 12 Corps said that the Chamalang coal mines, which were now operational following the tripartite agreement between the Marri and Luni tribes and mine contractors, had the capacity to produce coal worth Rs30 billion per annum.
An official statement issued here on Tuesday said that Gen Farooq during his interaction with the people of Kohlu had invited fugitives and marginalised persons to join the path of prosperity and development instead of impairing government efforts.
He asserted that the main advantage of this project was that education facility would be provided to 300 students by the army, adding that the package included free education, books, uniforms, stationery and a Rs500-monthly stipend.
He said the army in the initial stage would bear the cost; however, later at an appropriate time, it would be managed through the Chamalang development fund.
The Chamalang mines were closed 30 years back after a dispute over ownership between the Luni and the Murri tribes.
The Luni and Marri Tribes of Balochistan have been in great dispute over the distribution of mineral extracts and the land itself since long. They have been killing each other and making use of all kind of procedure in order to harm the other tribe.
It included killing and kidnapping of individuals, planting mines, abducting animals of the other tribe and snatching of vehicles. Locals considered the re-opening of the coal mine at Chamalang impossible. Many attempts had been made by the civilian govt and many others but all the efforts were in vain.
People were being killed and the entire area was in chaos, not to mention about the loss that was being incurred by our country due to the closure of the Coal Field!
Then came the Army, a rigorous campaign was started by the Army to get both the tribes patch together and let go of their issues. Contractors were also got hold of as they were never ready to come back and work for the coal mines due to the dangerous situation that has been created.
Now as the mines are operational again, they benefits have stated reaching the local peoples. A few are mentioned below:
- Free provision of schooling to children. Currently 3000 students are getting education. The students are also provided with free books, uniforms, stationery and a Rs 500-monthly stipend, all being funded by the coal mines.
- Provision of money as Khoon Baha to the relatives of the people who were either murdered or died as a result of firing or mine plantation by the either tribes. Rs 2 Crore were distributed last year, today Rs 1.5 Crore have been distributed to the relatives, again all odf this have been funded by the coal mines.
- Construction of Labour Colonies for the 50000-men labour that works at the mines.
- Construction of roads towards the mines thus connecting to the rest of Pakistan.
All the above mentioned projects and programs are being supervised by the Army, except that NO MONEY is involved directly for the Army. The Army just instructs the contractors and the money is directly given to the individuals by the civilian administration, to include the DCO, DPO, the Dept of Mines and Minerals and local Sardars!