July 26, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, July 25: Three smaller provinces Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan on Friday demanded resolution of ongoing disputes on water sharing and improvement of agricultural infrastructure to utilize the existing water shares before initiating new storage projects.

Punjab, however, insisted that new reservoirs upstream Tarbela dam should be launched immediately to meet water shortages.

These views were expressed by members of Indus River System Authority (Irsa) at a meeting with Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on his first-ever visit to the Irsa headquarters since he assumed office last year.

The minister assured the meeting he will visit the four provinces for talks with provincial leadership before referring controversial issues to the Council of Common Interest or any decision on new reservoirs.

Irsa secretary Sohail Ali Khan told reporters afterwards that there was no decision as such on any issue as the minister listened to the provincial members and promised to visit the provincial headquarters for consultation.

He quoted Balochistan’s representative as demanding remodelling of the Kirthar canal and improvement of the existing agricultural infrastructure to meet shortages although he had no objection to the construction of new dams.

The NWFP also complained that it was unable to utilize 1.3 million acre feet of its water share due to lack of infrastructure. The NWFP member demanded that the province’s infrastructure be improved first so that it could use its full share of water.

He said the NWFP had no objection to the construction of new dams but designing of such dams should be made strictly under the parameters of the 1991 water accord.

Punjab’s representative stated that the current water distribution was taking place under para 14(B) of the 1991 water accord, and demanded that new storages upstream Tarbela dam should be constructed without delay to overcome water shortages.

The Irsa chief briefed the minister on the functioning of his organization, the water accord and the provincial shares. He said the current water distribution was taking place on an ad-hoc basis.

Sindh’s member demanded that the question of sharing of water shortages under 14(b) of the accord should be immediately referred to the Council of Common Interest for resolution, and a study be conducted under para-7 of the accord to determine how much water should be released downstream Kotri.

Mr Sherpao told reporters afterwards that all issues, including construction of new dams, study on downstream Kotri water releases or implementation of the 1991 water accord could be resolved amicably.

He said he would visit the four provinces shortly to discuss all the controversial issues because he saw no reason why four brothers could not sit together in the national interest.

He said if the Irsa members could resolve the issue of study on downstream Kotri, they would have a place in history and the ministry would give them all-out support.

He said water issues were not limited only to Pakistan. Rather, they were a worldwide phenomenon. He said that Sindh and Balochistan administrations had taken steps to enable installation of five sensors to complete the telemetry system.

He said the telemetry system would be completed and inaugurated latest by September 30 this year.