October 15, 2003	Wednesday	Sha'aban 18, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: The federal government on Tuesday ruled that provincial irrigation secretaries would act as provincial members in the Indus River System Authority till the Irsa composition is complete.

As such, the irrigation secretaries would be treated as members at the Irsa advisory committee meeting, to be held on Oct 20 for finalising the Rabi Water Management Plan.

Chairman Irsa Nasar Ali Rajput had written to the government to continue with three members, who would retire on Friday, till the appointment of new members so that Irsa did not become non- functional, adding that the post of chief engineer was also vacant. He himself is among those retiring on Friday.

The ministry of water and power, however, refused to give them extensions and ruled that provincial irrigation secretaries would act as respective members and represent their provinces in the advisory committee’s meetings.

Three members of Irsa would retire on Oct 16 and as yet there were no nominations under consideration of the prime minister’s secretariat for appointment.

An official at the power ministry said that they have not yet forwarded panel of experts to the prime minister’s secretariat for appointment as members because the provinces have not finalised their respective panels. An official of Irsa, however, said the Sindh government has already forwarded the panel to the ministry.

Earlier, Sindh had recommended to the government to extend services of incumbent Sindh and federal members for another three year term.

The Prime Minister had refused to extend the services of two existing Irsa members, who represent Sindh. The federal government had asked the Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP to recommend their respective panels for appointment in Irsa.

Contracts of three Irsa members namely, Nasar Ali Rajput, a Sindh-domiciled member representing the federation and current chairman, member Sindh Noor Muhammad Baloch and the tenure of member Punjab Mian Hafizullah would expire on Oct 15, to be followed by member NWFP Aslam Saleem Khan on Nov 14.

Member Balochistan Rahim Khan Zarkun, whose contract would expire by end of next year would take over as chairman Irsa on Oct 17 in place of Nasar Ali Rajput. The post of Irsa chairman goes to each province on rotation basis under the 1991 water accord.

The prime minister secretariat believes that it was jurisdiction of the federal government to appoint Irsa members from amongst a panel of nominees from the provinces and hence the existing members could not be given extension.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf had decided about three years ago to fill the post of Irsa’s federal member on the recommendation of Sindh to remove its grievances on water distribution.

The appointment of Irsa members has become an important issue in view of the fact that last two meetings of Irsa have remained inconclusive to finalise figures of water shortage and provincial shares due to divergent provincial estimates.