ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Friday directed the Ministry of Water Resources to take up a decision on an inter-provincial dispute over the construction of a power project on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal with the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources led by Muhammad Yousuf Talpur did not confirm the minutes of its previous meeting over the issue and directed the matter should first be placed on the agenda of CCI meeting due on December 11.

The committee was also briefed on Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dam Fund, as well as on the master plan for water conservation. It was reported by the concerned officials that some Rs12 billion has been collected under the dam fund created by former chief justice of Pakistan and were still in the accounts of the apex court.

The committee directed that latest position of the total funds collected along with the breakup of expenditure incurred on advertisement campaigns through electronic and print media be provided in detail to the committee in the next meeting.

The committee also decided to write to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for details on the duration and cost of running advertisements for dams’ fund.

Mr Talpur said the Sindh government had strong objections to the construction of 25MW hydropower project on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal being planned construction by Punjab and cleared recently by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) through a majority vote. He noted that earlier the Sindh chief minister had also objected to the project.

PTI MNA Ali Nawaz Awan said the matter should be referred to the CCI since it is the relevant and highest inter-provincial forum on such subjects.

The committee was informed that the CCI is scheduled for December 11. Maryam Aurangzeb of PML-N also supported the proposals, saying the project had become controversial and should be forwarded to CCI.

MNA Riaz-ul-Haq said that it was also proposed in the previous meeting that matter of hydropower project on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal will go to the CCI.

Federal Secretary Water Resources Mohammad Ashraf said that the project was being built on Punjab’s share of water and every province had the right to put hydroelectric power out of its water share in its territories.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019