Chashma-Jehlum hydro-power link canal project: Sindh to approach Nepra, CCI against Punjab, PA told

The Sindh government would knock the doors of Council of Common Interests (CCI) in its dispute with Punjab over the construction of Chashma-Jehlum hydro-power link canal project. In view of the past bitter experiences, Sindh government apprehends that the "infeasible" project, if completed, would deprive the water-thirsty province of its due share in the country's water reserves.
"We apprehend that after establishment of the power plant, which would never be the case God willing, we would be asked that more water is needed for the canal that would reduce our share of water", Provincial Irrigation and Power Minister Murad Ali Shah told Business Recorder after Sindh Assembly session on Tuesday.
On a private members' day the lawmakers in the provincial assembly of Sindh introduced at least four private bills--Sindh Elimination of Copy Culture and Cheating in Examinations Bill, 2009, Control of Mainpuri and Gutka Bill, 2009, Sindh Civil Servants (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2009 and Restriction on Re-Employment Bill, 2009 two each on the notice of Humera Alwani and Arif Mustafa Jatoi respectively.
MQM's Heer Ismail Soho also tabled a resolution, proposing establishment of liver transplant institutes in all divisional headquarters of the province. The move, however, drew a noisy debate in the house with the members and Speaker Nisar Khuhro saying that the provincial government does not have enough resources to execute the "costly" project, recommended by the Assembly in the form of a resolution.
While Shama Mithani found the institute a "big word", Tourism Minister Shazia Marri, backed by Nadir Magsi and others, suggested that the well-intentioned resolution should be made "doable" through amendments. The issue, however, was settled when the speaker gave an assurance to Soho that he would take up her resolution even out of turn, once it is redrafted.
Earlier, when the session resumed with a two-hour delay at 11:55 am the members like Faisal Sabzwari and Nuzhat Pathan condemned an attack on the life of Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed in Rawalpindi. Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Leader of Opposition Jam Madad Ali were positive when Nuzhat Pathan demanded of the federal and provincial governments to double the salary of Lady Health Workers besides confirming their services.
Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said the Prime Minister, taking note of the issue, had issued directives to the finance and health ministries to do the needful. Meanwhile, the lawmakers thumped their desks to welcome a KCCI delegation led by leading businessman Siraj Kasim Teli in the visitors' gallery. A strong outcry hit the house when MQM legislator Bilquees Mukhtar protested against the approval of disputed Chashma-Jehlum Hydro-Power Link Canal project in Punjab province despite reservations of the Sindh Assembly.
While others demanded an immediate stoppage of the project, Culture Minister Sassui Palijo warned of street protests if the Punjab government proceeded with the disputed project which, she said, would leave the Sindh province barren. On this, Irrigation and Power Minister Murad Ali Shah took the floor and said his department in a day or two would send a petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) against the issuance of generation licences.
He said the Sindh Chief Minister had also apprised the Prime Minister on the strong reservations Sindh harboured against the project with the latter assuring to take personal interest in the matter. After the assembly session, the irrigation minister told Business Recorder: "If need arises, we would take the issue to the CCI". He said the 44MW project was not feasible and, therefore, the Punjab government would never be able to get it completed.
In a rare but surprising move a group of treasury members, led by Taimoor Talpur, staged a walkout from the house in protest against what he told the house on point of order failure of the provincial ministers to comply with the chief minister's directives.
He claimed that Mazharul Haque had declared himself a "supreme or utmost authority" whenever the MPAs approached him in line with their divisional meetings with the CM. Mazhar, howecer, rejected the claim, saying that the members wanted to get some unmerited officials transferred or posted on political basis, which should not be the case in the reign of present good governance-conscious democratic government. The matter, however, was temporarily resolved when the chair asked Talpur to negotiate the dispute in his chamber. On this, the speaker adjourned the house till 10 am on Wednesday.