The NWFP Irrigation Department has taken up the case of persistent loss to province due to wastage of its annual water share from rivers because of lack of proper canal system in the province with centre and demanded compensation of Rs 65 billion.
"Due to lack of proper canal system, the province is losing around one million acre feet of water annually from its due share as agreed under the 1991 Water Accord," said Provincial Minister for Irrigation, Hafiz Akhtar Ali while talking to APP here.
The amount demanded as compensation was calculated by the department in the year 2002-03 and the actual figure is more than this figure because the province is facing around an annual loss of Rs five billion due to wastage of its water. Provincial Minister said province cannot utilise its due share due to lack of facilities and its water is being used in down country.
He informed that the Irrigation department has approached Ministry of Water and Power through a letter and waiting for its reply. He said the Chief Minister was also apprised about the issue through a presentation and nodded for going ahead.
The Chief Minister, he continued, will also take up the case with Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Water and Power at appropriate time, he added. Hafiz Akhtar Ali said the department is not demanding compensation in cash but has asked the federal government to give more shares to NWFP in projects for development of irrigation system in the country.
In response to a question, the Minister said that the Ministry of Water and Power has not responded to the letter of Irrigation department so far. However, he continued, in case of continuous delay, the department will move the court on the issue.
He also criticised the previous governments for not taking up the issue despite their claim of protector of province's rights. About the biggest project launched by present government, Provincial Minister said Malakand III is a mega project on which MMA government can take pride.
He said Malakand III project was completed at a cost of Rs five billion and would earn a profit of Rs 1.5 billion for the province by generating 81 mega watt of electricity.
He said the project was completed on its original PC:1 and no revised estimates were made which speaks of honesty of the officials concerned. Presently, the water canal of the project has been started and within a period of one month power generation would also start.
Similarly, he added, present government has set up seven small dams in those areas of the province where irrigation water cannot reach. He said in 55 years history of the province only seven dams were constructed, but the present government set up additional seven dams in only five years.
Whereas, work on construction of 20 more dams is in progress for which feasibility reports are prepared and soon tenders will be called. Apart from this, the Minister added, the provincial Irrigation department chalked out a plan for lining of canals by making them concrete. Under the project, he added, Rs 750 million were spent in the year 2005-06. Same amount was spent in the year 2006-07 and the department will continue to spend Rs 750 million in the current fiscal. After completion of the project, existing canal system in the province will improve to it optimal utilisation level.
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