Islamabad, February 07, 2023 (PPI-OT):FBR should pay remaining amount deducted from the account of Naulong Dam and telemetry system be installed forthwith these directions were passed by the Standing Committee on Water Resources. The meeting of the Standing Committee was held today in Committee Room No. 7, Parliament House, and Islamabad. The meeting was presided over by honourable Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, MNA. The Standing Committee was informed that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) deducted Rs. 1916/- million from account of Naulong Dam in 2018-19.
The amount was actually granted for construction of the dam through PSDP. Due to the deduction the Naulong Dam could not be constructed. So, different for directed FBR to repay the said amount The Chairman, FBR in a previous meeting of the Standing Committee informed that the amount is being paid to WAPDA and necessary documentation has also been completed.
The Ministry of Water Resources informed that Rs. 1270/- million has been paid back to WAPDA but rest of the amount is yet to be paid. So, the Standing Committee directed that the remaining amount may also be paid to WAPDA, forthwith and Chairman, FBR should attend the next meeting in person and submit the compliance report.
The Standing Committee was informed that distribution of Indus water is made under the supervision of Indus River System Authority (IRSA). But Balochistan is not receiving its due shares since long. The representative of Sindh informed that they have a technical problem at Sukkur because they cannot release water from Sukkur unless a certain level of water is achieved. As well as Guddu is concerned they release water at Guddu. But they do not receive the due share of water at Guddu.
The Standing Committee was informed by IRSA that there are two solutions; one is for short term and the other is for long term. According to the short term solution it was suggested that staff of Irrigation Departments of Sindh and Punjab should sit at Panj Nand, Taunsa and Guddu on reciprocal basis and they should report the discharge of water and its measurement jointly.
Moreover, the reports may also be verified on actual measurement basis from time to time. Whereas, for long run, a Telemetry System is being placed at seven points which shall be helpful for accurate measurement of water discharge. The Standing Committee was of the view that it is an old issue and it should be addressed by the IRSA, forthwith. So, IRSA should submit a written report to address the issue permanently. Moreover, the Standing Committee directed that installation of telemetry system should be made rapidly.
The meeting of the Standing Committee on Water Resources was presided over by Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, MNA and attended by the Members of National Assembly; Dr. Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, Engr. Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani and Mr. Khalid Hussain Magsi. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Chairman and Members, IRSA and senior officers of the Ministry of Water Resources, IRSA, Irrigation Departments, KW and SB and WAPDA.
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Secretary,
National Assembly of Pakistan
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