KARACHI, Jan 27: The Sindh government has distanced itself from a report that it had consented construction of five major dam projects, including the controversial Kalabagh dam.

Taking exception to this note, the provincial government, according to sources, has decided to take up the matter with the federal government. They maintained that the provincial government’s stand on the proposed dams was unchanged and it had defended the same at the meeting of the Technical Committee on Water Reservoirs held in Islamabad with the secretary for water and power in chair.

The sources claimed that the committee had acknowledged Sindh’s stand on construction of the five dams, including Kalabagh. They said that for the first time, Sindh’s contention on availability of water was admitted.

They said the Sindh government had endorsed an announcement of President Gen Pervez Musharraf that first Bhasha and Munda dams and later other three dams would be planned.

However, a senior officer of the provincial government, who wished not to be named, said Sindh had never given consent about construction of the five dams and had always raised the question about availability of water for the dams.

Sources said the technical committee had sought opinion of the provinces on the proposed dams and the Sindh government had raised the question about the criteria of filling the dams and distribution of water. Sindh had also raised the question about the condition of the operation of the dams, the sources said, adding that the province had provided proofs about the water situation and conveyed to the committee that no dam could be built on this short availability of water. The committee, they said, had agreed with Sindh on the point.

However, sources said it was surprising for the province that the media was briefed that the four provinces had agreed on construction of the five dams. This was misleading, said the sources.