THIS is with reference to Mr Muhammad Idris Rajput's letter 'Irsa playing politics another view' (May 30). It appears from the letter that Mr Muhammad Amin, member from Balochistan, was fired for favouring Punjab.

The Indus River System Authority was created as an independent federal body to oversee the implementation of water distribution in accordance with the Water Accord 1991.

Its members, who are nominated by the provinces, would be the confidants of their respective provinces, but having been nominated they are members of Irsa and do not, as such, represent the provinces. They have to act judiciously but independently.

I, therefore, do not agree with the writer that every provincial member of Irsa has to act in consultation with his province. The provincial view points are presented before Irsa by their respective irrigation secretaries and not by the members. Irsa as a body makes decisions on merit just as a bench of the superior court decides matters.

I, however, agree with the writer that Irsa's chairman should be a judge of high court and there should be four technical members, one from each province, all having one vote each.

These five members should constitute the authority. Wapda can send their representative to attend the authority's (Irsa's) meetings and to present their point if any. The authority's decisions should be as per normal practice on the basis of majority vote, without making the procedure ambiguous and cumbersome as suggested by the writer.

FAQIR AHMAD PARACHA
Peshawar