SUKKUR, Nov 1: The Federal Minister for Water and Power, Mr Liaquat Ali Jatoi, has said that there is enough water in dams and barrages for power generation and for Rabbi and Kharif crop irrigation.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he underlined the need for building more water reservoirs in the country because the level of Tarbela dam had considerably gone down due to sedimentation.

He said the president and the prime minister wouldtake decision in this regard in accordance with national aspirations and with the consent of all the provinces.

Mr Jatoi made it clear that no decision on them had so far been taken and the matter was being actively considered at the concerned level.

He said the capacity of the Mangla dam was being increased.

He said there was no water shortage for Rabbi and Kharif crops in Sindh and Punjab as the water flow had been more than 6.12 MAF as compared to 4MAF a few weeks back.

He called upon Hesco officials to forget about the past and make a fresh beginning to make the organization public-friendly.

He said a package had been announced for the consumers under which 50 per cent arrears would be waived off against the defaulters of more than five years and the package was valid till Dec 31.

Similarly, a new connection will be available for Rs300 whereas the reconnection charges have been abolished and the arrears of new connections or the old closed connections can be paid in 10 or 15 instalments.

The minister said at present Wapda had surplus hydel power due to increasing level of our rivers and it was being generated upto its capacity.

He said he had directed the Hesco officials to rehabilitate grids and feeders in their circles in order to avoid loadshedding.

He also underlined the need for launching an awareness campaigns for uprooting the Kunda culture, power thefts and tampering of meters.

He said he had told the officials that there would be no Sufarish culture so long as he was the minister and all the decisions including postings and transfers would be made on merit and irrespective of the number of seniority.

Hesco chief executive Adibul Hassan Rizvi and director development Sharif Ansari were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the minister addressed the Hesco officials where MNA Dr Ibrahim Jatoi and MNA Syed Javed Jilani were also present.

Our Larkana correspondent adds: Mr Jatoi said Sindh would get its due share of water and the rights of its people will be safeguarded at any cost.

Speaking at a reception hosted by Mushtaq Ali Jatoi here on Monday, he urged Wapda officials to change their attitude and serve the people without any discrimination. "Any kind of corruption and negligence will lend them in trouble" he said.

"The officials should realize their responsibilities and provide relief to the common man which is their moral and legal obligation" he stressed.

Mr Jatoi said no transformer should be shifted from any village on the pretext of non-payment or any another reason.

He said FIRs would be lodged against those officials who were found guilty and going against the instructions.

The minister called upon the people to pay their bills according to the meter reading which would be in their own interest.

The government was interested in resolving the problems of the people at their door steps and the devolution of power plan was as a symbol of its sincerity, Jatoi said.