December 19, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: Chashma Barrage would be closed for 19 days, from Dec 28 to Jan 16, to carry out the repairs of Taunsa Barrage, the Indus System River Authority (Irsa) decided here on Wednesday in a meeting attended by the representatives of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

A press release issued by the authority said that during the period of closure, water supply to Sindh and Balochistan would be ensured from the Chashma-Jhelum link canal as per their indents.

During the meeting, the commencement of closure was extended by two days from Dec 26 to Dec 28 on the request of Sindh. The representative of Sindh also requested Irsa to ensure supply of water during the closure period as it would be crucial for the crops, the press release said.

All the members and secretary of Irsa, representatives of the irrigation and power departments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, representative of the chief engineering adviser and representatives of Wapda from Chashma and Taunsa barrages attended the meeting.

STUDIES: Concurrently, all the four provinces have unanimously agreed to carry out three environmental studies in a meeting of the parliamentary committee on water resources, a handout issued here on Wednesday said.

The handout issued by the National Assembly Secretariat said the studies would be carried out to check water escapages downstream Kotri Barrage and to address environmental concerns of water escapages downstream Kotri Barrage. Moreover, each province would also carry out a study pertaining to environmental concerns.

Issues relating to provision of funds were resolved with an agreement that the Ministry of Water and Power would provide the funds from its own allocation. However, if need be, additional funds could be sought from the finance ministry, the handout said.

“These issues were in doldrums since 1991 due to various objections and perceptions on the part of the provinces which have been amicably and unanimously resolved on Dec 16, 2003,” the handout said.