ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources has sought details of financial institutions where Supreme Court (SC) invested an amount of over Rs 12 billion collected for the Diamer Bhasha dam and Mohmand Dam. The committee presided over by Nawab Yousf Talpur was informed that the committee's secretariat got a list of investments from the website of SC, according to which the SC has invested in Treasury Bills (TBs) of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). A total amount of Rs 12.636 billion has been collected in the SC and Prime Minister of Pakistan's Diamer Bhasha and Mohamd dam funds as on August 17, 2020.
Former Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif, who is also a former banker, asked the rate of return on the investment. "Details should be sought from Supreme Court as to what percentage money was invested where," he said, adding that AAA banks give higher rate of return on investment as compared to other banks/financial institutions.
He said that investment should have been made in those financial institutions which extend a higher rate of return. The committee was also informed that according to PEMRA, not a single penny has been spent on advertisement from collections for both the dam projects.
During the meeting, Chairman Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Engineer Zahid Abbas told the meeting that 41 per cent of Balochistan's water share was being "stolen" by Sindh. His accusations were endorsed by the Balochistan's (Member) IRSA, Abdul Hameed Mengal. The committee members, Khalid Magsi, who is also a former Chairman of Water Resources Committee, accused Sindh of stealing Balochistan's share of water due to which the province was not getting its allocated share.
A heated debate was witnessed on this issue. Irsa Member (Sindh), Zahid Hussain Junejo refuted the charges, saying that the Sindh government was not involved in water pilferage. However, he acknowledged that sometimes fluctuations are recorded in water releases. He suggested that an inquiry should be conducted through Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) to ascertain the facts.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, suggested that a concrete structure should be built to gauge accuracy of water releases to satisfy the affected province. The committee was informed that Chief Ministers of both provinces have already been directed to resolve dispute on water amicably. However, no meeting has been held between the two chief executives of the provinces.
The newly-appointed Secretary Water Resources, Munir Azam said that though provincial governments were not involved in water theft yet it is their responsibility to address such issues. Chairman Standing Committee directed that letters should be written to the Chief Ministers of both provinces to resolve the dispute.
The committee directed that both provinces - Sindh and Balochistan - should depute senior officials at water release gauges to record water shares and send a joint report to the Ministry on a daily basis. Chairman IRSA also gave a briefing on water situation to the committee. He said, during Rabi( October-April) 10 per cent shortage has been projected, on the basis of a three-tier formula.
At, this Chairman of Standing Committee enquired as to when this issue (three-tier formula) will be resolved, prompting Joint Secretary, Water Resources to state that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has already constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Attorney General for Pakistan for the purpose.
When the issue of pre-feasibility study of Sindh Barrage came under discussion, the representative of Sindh government raised questions on the capability of Wapda engineers, saying that Wapda should share the CVs of its experts for examination by Sindh government before allowing them to start work on the feasibility study.
However, Member Water (Wapda) responded that the organization has not yet taken any such decision so far, adding that Wapda has prepared an initial report, which has also been shared with the provincial government for comments. However, the Sindh government has not shared its comments on the initial report.
"As we receive comments from provincial government, Wapda would start work on feasibility study of Sindh barrage," he added. Joint Secretary Water Resources informed the committee that work on feasibility of telemetry system has started and eight new points have been added to the list where water gauges will be installed.
Farooq Azam Malik, MNA from Bahawalpur, urged the government to give judicious share of water to his district (former State of Bahawalpur) as the source of income of 95 per cent of population of the district is agriculture. He complained about Secretary Irrigation Punjab who is also being given a tough time by the committee for not attending the meeting. Ali Nawaz Awan, MNA from Islamabad, suggested that his salary be withheld.
Federal Flood Commission (FFC) informed the committee that Rs 65 billion has been allocated to mitigate flood devastation. Ministry of Water Resources apprised the committee that PC-I with an estimated project cost of Rs 332 billion has been prepared to completely address the issue of floods in the country. It has been proposed that the Federal Government and the provinces should share in the projects on 50:50 basis.
However, after consultation with the provinces, it was decided that in the first phase Rs 65 billion rupees be spent on different projects: projects amounting to Rs 23 billion shall be executed in the province of Punjab and projects amounting to Rs 20 billion shall be executed in the province of Sindh to mitigate the impact of damage caused by floods. And several mega projects shall be executed in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to control floods.
According to an official statement, the committee was informed that there were 24 sites where the telemetry system will be installed to properly check the flow of the water in Indus River System at different locations.
However, to start with there are 7 places where the telemetry system was proposed to be installed. Sindh pointed out that for proper distribution of water and for proper checking of water it is necessary that the telemetry system be installed at least on 9 points.
The Ministry of Water Resources apprised the Committee that the telemetry system would be owned by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA). However, it would be installed by Wapda. The government has decided to install telemetry system on 9 points instead of 7 points in phase-I.
Wapda authorities stated that they have completed PC-I and the PC-I would be submitted to government in a few days. The Standing Committee directed that telemetry system should be installed on a priority basis because it is necessary for transparent and just distribution of water.
Beside others, the meeting was attended by Members National Assembly Ali Nawaz Awan, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Ch. Shokat Ali Bhatti, Muhammad Farooq Azam Malik, Ch. Javed Iqbal Warraich, Ms. Naureen Farooq Ibrahim, Ms. Nuzhat Pathan, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ch. Muhammad Hamid Hameed, Afreen Khan and Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz. Muhammad Faisal Vawda, Minister for Water Resources also attended the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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