April 2, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 29, 1424

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LAHORE, April, 1: The Punjab government has decided to approach the federal ministry of water and power and the federal cabinet to seek removal of Indus River System Authority (Irsa) chairman for alleged ‘biased conduct’.

Sources in the provincial Irrigation Department say that a draft letter is ready and will be sent in a day or two.

The letter says the attitude of the Irsa chairman is hampering the smooth working of the authority because “his biased handling of water releases and issuing public statements on internal matters of the authority. This does not augur well for the country and the authority,” it says.

According to the letter, the working of the Irsa has become ‘flawed’. In a body of five, Sindh has two votes — one for its own member and a second of the federal member. Two years back, through a presidential order, it was decided to grant federal membership to the nominee of Sindh. Now Sindh enjoys two votes in a body of five, and a third casting vote of the chairman in case of a tie.

Since the shares of the NWFP and Balochistan are ensured in the water accord, they do not have any interest left in the day-to-day working of Irsa. This situation, it is said, has further compromised the position of Punjab. Now it has to face two votes of Sindh against its one, and be on a disadvantageous position permanently.

Meanwhile, in another letter to the authority, Punjab on Tuesday protested at Irsa’a failure to meet its 10-daily indent placed before it for the first week of April. The indent was to take effect on Tuesday, but, according to the provincial irrigation authorities, it has not been the case. The Punjab had asked for reducing water releases from Mangla from the present 35,000 cusecs to 20,000 and release 18,000 cusecs from the Indus arm, which was its due, to the provincial canals. But the indent was ignored, which, as per the claim of Punjab, the Irsa cannot do.