Sindh and Punjab have finally agreed to amicably resolve, under the Water Accord 1991, the issue of hydroelectric power plant to generate 44MW at Chashma-Jhehlum Link Canal, sources informed Business Recorder on Thursday. They said that provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab had recently agreed to resolve the controversial issue through negotiations.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, during his recent visit, had also assured Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah of resolving the serious issue by taking the Sindh government into confidence, they added. Sources said that Punjab government had recently stopped the development work of the power plant, adding that the irrigation and power department's officials of both provinces' governments would meet in Lahore shortly to resolve the matter.
It may be mentioned here that Punjab government, without the consent of Sindh, was planning to establish the hydroelectric power plant to generate 44MW electricity aimed at overcoming prevailing energy crisis. It was proposed that the said plant would run with the help of Indus water from Sindh's share for a period of two months.
Sources said that the power plant was expected to create a rift between provinces with Sindh likely to suffer more. If the said power plant is established on Chashma-Jhehlum Link Canal, the Greater Thal and Reni Canal would suffer a shortage of more than 9,000 cusecs of irrigation water, they said.
They said that Punjab had been diverting the irrigation water of Chashma-Jhehlum Link Canal since 1991, which is a clear violation of the Constitution 1973, and added that Sindh government did not trust the assurances of Punjab on any issue particularly this hydroelectric power plant as it had always violated agreements in the past.
Furthermore, the sources said that the agricultural lands of Sindh have become futile due to non-implementation of the Water Accord, 1991 and the province has really become water-thirsty since last two years. In 1971, an agreement was made between Sindh and Punjab governments under which Punjab could divert Indus water only when surplus water is available in all canals and barrages of the province.
Another major condition at that time was that at least 40 MAF would be released into the Arabian Sea from Kotri Barrage downstream, they said, adding that at present there was no water in canals and the rough sea had eroded a big area of the agricultural land. They said that the Indus River Systems Authority (Irsa) would ensure implementation of the Water Accord, 1991 and co-ordinate with concerned provinces to resolve this controversial issue.