Islamabad, August 21, 2019 (PPI-OT): The Committee on Water Resources in its meeting on Wednesday took serious notice of the absence of Chief Secretary Balochistan while discussing the progress report on the point of public importance raised by Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, regarding compensation of affectees of Mirani Dam.
Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi said that a recommendation was made in the last meeting for the summoning of responsible officers, which has not been heeded. He took serious note of the knowledge deficit of the officers present in the meeting. It was asserted that these are delay tactics and that strict action must be taken against this. The Committee recommended that Chief secretary, Secretary Irrigation, Secretary Finance, Deputy Commissioner Kech be summoned in the next meeting and Privilege Motion be moved against them if they fail to show-up.
The next agenda item pertained to Relocation of Khazina Dam; reasons and rationale for reselection of site. The Committee was informed that 300 million have been allocated for the project that costs 25 billion. The storage capacity of the new site would be 7 times more. The Committee was requested that it support this matter and give directives for inclusion of the budget in the provincial PSDP. Chairman Committee, Senator Shamim Afridi appreciated the progress and aid that 15 months of hardwork has finally begun to pay off.
While taking up the editorial of Daily Jang published on 7th August, 2019 regarding damage caused by flood in the Indus River, the Committee recommended that further encroachment of flood plains must be discouraged and a policy of flood plain regulation be formulated. The Committee also recommended that affectees must be compensated and relocated. Chief Secretaries of all four provinces were summoned in the next meeting.
While discussing water in-flow from the Indian side in the Sutlej River in Pakistan, it was recommended that an in-Camera meeting be held solely on this subject. The meeting was chaired by Senator Shamim Afridi, and attended by Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, Senator Mir Muhammad Yousaf Badini, Senator Walid Iqbal and senior officers of the Ministry of Water Resources, and IRSA along with all concerned.
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Senate of Pakistan
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H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2,
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