LAHORE, Sept 11: The Punjab Water Council (PWC) on Thursday took exception to Wapda chairman’s proposal that 6.7 million acre feet (MAF) of water should be allowed to flow downstream Kotri barrage.

PWC secretary-general Hamid Malhi claimed in a press statement that Wapda had always tried to complicate matters. “When the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) is already in the process of forming a committee for quantifying the need downstream Kotri, how can someone make such a premature statement,” he said. The president should take note of such controversies, which only add to a worsening situation, he added.

The Wapda chairman had also stressed the need for another feasibility study on Kalabagh dam. Such a suggestion, Mr Malhi said, was aimed at wasting time and precious money on useless exercises. All these studies and suggestions were prepared back in the 60s. Now, when the national perspective on the dam was undergoing a favourable change, the chairman had suggested a fresh study. It would only help the anti-dam lobby. The authority seemed to be more interested in feasibility studies than projects, he remarked.

Under the 1991 accord, water was apportioned among provinces and there was hardly any need to reopen the issue. The president must intervene and stop the Wapda chairman from aggravating the situation with such suggestions, he maintained.