PESHAWAR, Oct 23: The NWFP government wants the federal government to take the provinces into confidence to evolve a consensus before taking a decision regarding the Kalabagh dam project, provincial Irrigation Minister Hafiz Akhtar Ali said on Thursday.
“We are of the view that water storage projects should be implemented to overcome the crisis in the country. We believe that the federal government should take the provinces into confidence before taking a final decision about the execution of the disputed Kalabagh dam project,” he said while responding to newsmen’s questions at the press club.
He said the NWFP government was of the view that the project should not be executed unless the apprehensions of the provinces and parties concerned were removed and a consensus was achieved after putting an end to the prevalent atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion.
In response to a series of questions, the minister gave answers in unclear terms, trying to balance his government’s views for and against the project.
“Before going for the project,” he said, “the Bhasha dam should be executed, because it is more beneficial and productive than the Kalabagh dam.”
The dispute over the construction of a large dam at Kalabagh was more of a technical nature than a political issue, he said and added that the federal government should hold discussions with the stakeholders and arrange seminars to allay the reservations and concerns of the federating units.
Replying to a question, he said a project against which assemblies of three provinces had adopted unanimous resolutions should not be executed.
“Dams should be built because the country needs water reservoirs but before launching the Kalabagh project the three smaller provinces should be taken into confidence to remove their apprehensions,” he said.
In view of the depleting capacity of the water storage schemes in the province and wastage, the province had undertaken several projects to construct small dams and enhance the capacity of some existing reservoirs, he said.
He said the government was working on several initiatives to improve the irrigation system in the province by developing new channels and improving some existing ones.
The initiatives, he claimed, would make the irrigation system more effective and efficient to avoid seepage.
He said establishment of water reservoirs would help improve the underground water level.
He said the provincial government had taken up the issue of share in the profit from the Bhasha dam project.
“A proposal for dividing the project’s profit equally between the NWFP and the Northern Areas has remained under discussion at the federal level,” he said.
“An understanding is there that both the areas should benefit, though a final decision has yet to be taken,” he maintained.
Responding to questions regarding the Auqaf, religious and minorities affairs, he said if the old system of registering madressahs was not restored and the reservations of the provincial authorities concerned not removed, it might lead to problems.
“The new registration system,” he maintained, “amounts to interference in the internal affairs of madressahs.”
He said the province had sent its recommendations to the federal government on the issue.
APP adds: Hafiz Akhtar said the distribution of funds among the seminaries had been made transparent and the deserving institutions were receiving assistance from the government.
He said the government had restored the old syllabus of madressahs, which had been changed by the previous rulers.
He said the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank would provide funds for construction and improvement of 190 water supply schemes in the province, as a result of which more than 50,000 acres would be cultivated.
He said an organization had been set up for the construction of small dams in the province. The department, he said, had constructed the Gandiali, Tanda and Baran dams, while the feasibility study of the Azhakhel dam was in process.