Mining shadows on Thar’s landscape

Over the past decade, the Thar desert subdistrict of Islamkot, located in district Tharparkar, has experienced a dramatic transformation. What was once a mostly barren landscape has now given way to expanding infrastructure with the distinctive stamp of industrialisation. This change, accelerated by the development of Pakistan’s largest lignite coal reserves, is often welcomed as a sign of national development and energy self-sufficiency. However, there are complications. Though proponents of the Thar coal project highlight jobs, infrastructure, and energy security, the timing and model of this development call for scrutiny. Has this transformation shown any sign of long-term ecological foresight, or has it been hurried under the banner of ‘development at any cost’? Evidence of environmental consequences of open-pit coal mining, saline water reservoirs, and poorly planned urban expansion are beginning to surface. And while the imagery of green patches and water bodies may suggest renewal, the reality is that much of it is artificial, seasonal, or environmentally unsustainable.