The chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources, Senator Nisar Memon, has said no decision has been taken by the committee about construction of Kalabagh, Bhasha and other water reservoirs.
However, the committee would submit its recommendations to the federal government by June next in this behalf, he added.
He was replying to a question during a press briefing here Wednesday.
He said the committee would make its recommendations on the proposals and suggestions given by the provincial governments on the subject, adding the President has directed the committee to make its recommendations based on ground realities and after taking into consideration the concerns and fears of all provinces.
Nisar Memon said the committee is holding meetings with the provincial government representatives and officials by visiting all provincial capitals to get first hand knowledge about the on ground situation as well as find out the grievances and reservations the province are having about sharing of the Indus water and construction of more big water reservoirs.
He said that 105 million acre feet (MAF) of water flowing through the canals and distributaries, 47 MAF go waste due to seepage. To check this problem the government had already approved lining of all distributaries that would cost billions.
He told newsmen that the eight-member parliamentary committee, having equal representation from all the four provinces, was assigned two tasks by the Speaker, National Assembly, on the suggestion of the President and the prime minister, adding the tasks include to review all the available water resources in the country, and estimate how much water is required to flow down the Kotri barrage and what to do to protect environment and marine life.
He said the committee, however, added two more tasks in its terms of reference ie to see problems hampering 1991 Irsa accord and find ways and means to meet water shortage in Balochistan whose 91 percent arable land falls outside the domain of Indus River system.
Nisar Memon also said only nine percent of the arable land ie 28,316 acres in Balochistan are irrigated by canals, while 316,674 acres fall outside the command of Indus system, adding at present, Balochistan is availing 3.05 MAF of water from Indus system against its actual share of 3.67 MAF.
The provincial government representatives had lauded the steps taken by President Musharraf during the last three years to ensure that Balochistan gets its due share.
In this connection, he ordered construction of Kachhi canal without delay, widening and extension of Pat Feeder canal, and now these projects would be ready by 2003.
The 500-km-long Kachhi canal with a capacity of 6,000 cusec would cost Rs 2 billion.
Besides, Rs 5 billion has been earmarked for lining of all distributaries in the province to save water wastage. Remodelling of Kirthar canal is also being carried out at a cost of Rs 1 billion.
The widening of Pat Feeder and Uch canals would be completed at a cost of Rs 2 billion.
He said 41 projects have been planned for providing 10.1 MAF water for irrigation in other parts of the province, while 54 delay action dams would be constructed to ensure ground water recharging.
Nisar Memon said the provincial government has informed the committee about financial handicaps, adding he would recommend to the federal government for speedy release of required Rs 436 million to construct 50 such dams as four are already under construction.
He said Rs 70 million would be spent on flood management in Marri and Bugti areas, and the rehabilitation of Karezat is also in progress under drought relief packages, ading the President had already approved the Quetta water supply project costing Rs 8 billion in February 2003.
To a question, Nisar Memon said Balochistan opposition members had lauded the 1991 Accord and supported the water projects in the province. Other members of the committees, Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay and senior provincial government officials were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, the committee chaired by Senator Nisar Memon hold detailed meeting with representatives from Balochistan and all other stakeholders, including farmers on water shortage issues and various programmes to develop water resources in the province.
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