ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel held on Tuesday that the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had no powers to resolve water sector issues and disputes and nobody could be allowed to encroach upon legal and constitutional powers of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa).

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power presided over by Zahid Khan of the ANP rejected a statement issued by Wapda last week saying that Water and Power Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif had asked Wapda to play the role of a focal agency for resolution of water issues.

“We reject this order and stop its implementation,” summed up Senator Zahid Khan, adding that such orders should be deemed to have not been issued and if implemented, it would be considered a violation of the Senate committee that would take serious notice.

ِِِِ

Irsa says water distribution its responsibility

Former PPP Law Minister Senator Maula Bukhsh Chandio of the PPP said the minister for water and power had reportedly transferred Irsa’s powers to Wapda to deal with the issues related to the water sector. He said Irsa was created after an understanding and consensus of the provinces and it was inappropriate to unilaterally meddle in its affairs or encroach upon its powers.

Mr Chandio said distribution of water and settlement of water sector issues was an exclusive domain of Irsa and Wapda had nothing to do with such matters because it simply was a federal executing agency for development of water resources under the guidance of the provinces and Irsa. “Wapda is not a trustworthy institution and it had played havoc with the water situation,” he said.

He said that the committee should also invite the Irsa chairman to brief on its role and the orders reported by Wapda.

It was decided to have a briefing from the Irsa chief in the next meeting.

Wapda Chairman Zafar Mahmood read out the letter written by the minister for water and power and said that the minister had instructed Wapda to improve water measurement record and it had nothing to do with transfer of Irsa’s powers to Wapda.

He said there were some incidents of difference of opinion over measurement and recording of water flows at Tarbela, Ghazi Barotha, Punjnad and Kotri a few days ago and the minister had read some newspaper reports about these differences.

Therefore, the minister wrote that flow measurements were not correct and these should be looked into and corrected. The minister had pointed out that such discrepancies could create inter-provincial disharmony and hence should not be allowed to go on.

Mr Mahmood said there was no mention of transfer of powers from Irsa to Wapda in the minister’s letter. He said telemetry system for gauging water flows developed a few years ago and maintained by Wapda had run into troubles. He, however, said Wapda was ready to extend all possible cooperation to Irsa for accurate data recording.

Managing Director of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project retired Lt Gen Mohammad Zubair told the committee that the project was facing serious financing problems. He said 64 per cent work on hydropower project and 74pc on dam and river diversion had been completed. The project got Rs37 billion last year and it would require Rs72bn this year.

He said it was originally decided that 50pc financing for the strategic project would be raised through a 10 paisa per unit special surcharge on electricity bills but its cost had increased so much that this 50pc would now amount to only 10pc of the cost.

He disclosed that financial close of the project had not yet been achieved even though it was in advanced stages. He said the government had to arrange $475 million for the project for which the Chinese Exim Bank had promised to provide $300m but the deal was yet to be finalised.

The committee also considered removal of officers re-hired after their retirement and expressed anguish over non-availability of the minister and the secretary of the water and power ministry.

Managing Director of the Pakistan Electric Power Company Imran Ahmad told the committee that chief executive officers of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company and Gujrat Electric Power Company were still working on extension after retirement on the approval of the board of directors of these companies.

Senator Zahid Khan said the extension in service of retired officers violated the Supreme Court judgment.

The committee decided to examine the powers of the board of directors of the companies and the SC judgment in its next meeting.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014