LAHORE, April 21: The Punjab has not suffered any discrimination as far as water distribution by the Indus River System Authority is concerned, but it does not mean that the province has lowered its guards.

This was stated by Punjab Minister for Irrigation Aamer Sultan Cheema on Monday. He was speaking at a press conference at his office.

“The province is monitoring the situation very closely and reserve the right to point out any anomaly and take it up at the appropriate forum,” he said.

About the relationship between the Punjab and Irsa chairman Nasr Rajput, the minister said that all federal units and bodies must abide by certain rules and procedures.

“There is nothing personal as far as public argument with the Irsa chairman is concerned. There were certain discrepancies which the Punjab had to point out. It should not be interpreted in any other way,” he emphasised.

Regarding Kalabagh dam, Mr Cheema said: “It is better to abandon the project altogether rather than using it as a whip against one another.”

Mr Cheema claimed that over a billion-dollar projects — the Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (PIDA) and the National Drainage Programme (NDP) — had not taken off the ground in spite of heavy funding. Both projects have indebted the country without any contribution to the economy.

“I have requested a private audit company to check the accounts of the PIDA and file a report,” the minister claimed. All those found guilty would be taken to task.

In addition to strict audit, the ministry has also decided to form a vigilance cell comprising officers from other departments like finance, audit, anti-corruption and the chief minister’s inspection team so that corruption could be checked effectively.

Another committee comprising officials of these department would also see the tendering process and execution of any development work. All these efforts aimed at bringing transparency in the system.

Mr Cheema denied any rightsizing in the department saying that over 900 employees from the SCRAP project would be adjusted against vacant posts or offered a substantial package.

“A political government can hardly afford to make people unemployed and stir a social chaos.”

About the aging irrigation system in the province, he said that it was designed to 60-70 per cent crop intensity which has now gone up to 120 to 150 per cent. “This has put our canals under sever pressure and our water channels needed continued monitoring and regular upgradation.

“Water scarcity has taken better of our all development planning. In 1950, per capita water availability was 5,000 cubic meter that has gone down to 1100 in the year 2003. In near future, it will be further reduced to 1,000 — the minimum requirement for any development activity,” he said.

Mr Cheema said the water reservoirs’ capacity was decreasing with every passing day. The water reservoirs have already lost 20 per cent of their capacity and the three-year drought hurt the agriculture beyond redemption. In the year 2000-01, water shortage was 43 per cent. It was 51 per cent in 2001-02. This year it was expected to go up to 70 per cent but timely rain saved the country from impending famine.

It was time to immediately plan and start construction of a new dam and capture the lost capacity. Otherwise, the country may soon be facing water crisis of unimaginable proportion, the minister warned.