Azad Jammu & Kashmir: Payment of NHP, water charges referred to ECC, Senate told

The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources was informed on Tuesday that the matter of payment of net hydel profit (NHP) and water usage charges to Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) has been referred to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and a decision is awaited.
The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources met here with Shamim Afridi in the chair where a detailed briefing was given on compensation of affected people of Mirani Dam, the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) proposals for the next fiscal year.
Regarding the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, the committee was informed that the project enjoys paramount importance and work on it commenced on January 30, 2008. To ensure that all parties are compensated fairly, a tripartite agreement was drafted that was approved for the payment of net hydel profit and water usage charges to AJ&K. The Ministry of Finance asserts that under the Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, net hydel profit is admissible only to the provinces. The committee was informed that a result of these issues, the AJ&K is at loss. The lives of people have been distorted and mass migrations have taken place.
Senator Usman Khan Kakar stressed the need for payment to be made at the earliest so that the people of AJ&K may be recompensed. The committee was informed that this matter has been referred to the ECC and a decision is awaited. It was recommended that the matter must be referred to the cabinet after the ECC decision. The committee also deliberated upon the PSDP proposals for the next fiscal year.
While discussing the issue of compensation to the affected people of Mirani Dam, Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed said that this is a big issue that has been pending for the last 11 years.
He asserted that there is a marked difference in dollar rates and that the affected people must be compensated accordingly. Quoting a letter on behalf of 2,700 affected people of Mirani Dam, it was asserted that numerous upstream orchards have been destroyed as a result of which mass migrations have taken place. Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Shahi informed the committee that the affected people demand a 300 percent increase in compensation rates.
Senator Ahmed Khan was of the view that this grave injustice be recompensed at the earliest. He said that as per Asian Development Bank rules, making complete payment to land owners and affected people is prerequisite to begin work on its projects.
It was asserted that the department of finance and the irrigation department, government of Balochistan, along with deputy commissioner Kech be summoned in the next meeting.
The chairman lauded that Rs 18 billion saved from the Mohmand Dam Project are being allocated for the construction of Naulong Dam.
The meeting was attended by Senator Sana Jamali, Senator Quratul Ain Marri, Senator Ahmed Khan, Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Gianchand and senior officers of the Ministry of Water Resources, Department of Irrigation, Sindh and Balochistan, and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Shahi was a special invitee.