The NWFP Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding net profit on the power generation project of Ghazi Barotha, and urged the Federal government to refrain from initiating projects creating hatred among the federating units.
The joint resolution, presented by Awami National Party (ANP) Parliamentary Leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Abdul Akbar Khan of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) and Israr-ul-Haq of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) was adopted by the house except Saeed Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, who uttered "no" after exchanging harsh words with the mover.
The resolution said that water of the Ghazi Barotha project had been created through changing the direction of water, which, it said, was liable to the forcible occupation of the water resources of the province. It said the Federal government had intentionally established a power station of the Ghazi Brotha project power station in Punjab to earn net profit for Punjab.
It said that the people of the Frontier province had given sacrifices for it, but they were denied of the payment of any net profit. Similarly, it said the water from Galliyat had been supplied to Murree without taking the province into confidence. NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan suspended the Rule No 240 of the proceedings to allow the movers to table resolution under Rule No 124 of the assembly.
Earlier speaking on his adjournment motion, Bashir Ahmad Bilour said the water of Ghazi Barotha project was being supplied to Islamabad through a six feet and eight inches pipeline, which, he said, was injustice to the province and negation of the unanimously passed resolution in 2004. The federal government, he charged, was owning the agreement of the provision of water to Tehsil Ghazi of Haripur district.
Abdul Akbar Khan of the PPP while supporting Bashir Bilour said the payment of net profit to NWFP on Ghazi Barotha Power Project was the right of the province, but due to establishment of the powerhouse of the project it seems the right of its earning was given to Punjab.
He said that NWFP should be paid net profit in proportion to its sacrifices and damages. Abdul Majid Khan of MMA recalled the sacrifices rendered by the people of Swabi district for the construction of Tarbela Dam and called for initiation of development projects to compensate them.
Minister for Irrigation, Hafiz Akhtar Ali said the matter raised by Bilour was important, adding the Water Accord of 1991 had guaranteed share of NWFP in the water resources of the province. He said it was injustice with the people of the province, as 55000-cusec water was diverted to Punjab for establishment of power station there.
The minister said that the provincial government had calculated the share of water resources used by other province. NWFP owes Rs 65 billion against federal government and other provinces against the use of its water resources. "The water either being used for drinking purpose or for irrigation, no one should be allowed to snatch the right of water resources of any province," he added.
The house also passed another resolution with majority vote condemning restricting the entry of MMA leaders Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Shuja-uk-Mulk and others to Bajaur Agency. They MMA leaders were going to Bajaur Agency for expressing condolence with the families of those killed in the missile strike on a religious seminary in Bajaur Agency.
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