Compensation to victims of Mirani Dam: Balochistan government suggested to take case to ECNEC

A parliamentary panel Thursday recommended the government of Balochistan to take the case of compensation to affectees of Mirani Dam to Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources in its meeting on Thursday discussed the matter of compensation to affectees of Mirani Dam. Senator Shamim Afridi chaired the meeting.

After hearing the provincial and federal planning and development ministries, the committee recommended to the Balochistan government to take up the matter with ECNEC, requesting it to remove the condition of third party evaluation for payment to affectees.

The committee agreed to the viewpoint of the provincial government that after the passage of seven years from 2012, it is almost impossible to conduct the on-ground survey by a third party to make estimates of losses and hence the compensation money of Rs 960 million be paid to affectees without evaluation. The committee also called for releasing the remaining money at the earliest.

The committee deferred discussion on details of land lost due to sea intrusion in different coastal districts of Sindh and the construction of Sindh Barrage and its impact on reduction of sea intrusion till the chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) himself can make it to the meeting and brief the committee, who is currently on the medical leave.

The committee also discussed the matter of grant of technical/engineering allowance to the engineers off WAPDA @ 1.5 times of the basic pay. The committee was told by the WAPDA that this policy is being implemented by provincial governments but WAPDA follows the federal government, hence, it cannot give this grant.

Regarding the spate irrigation scheme in district Dukki, the committee members decided that a consultative session be held between the provincial planning and development department and the area's tribal elders to reach a consensus after which measures will be taken to get the project funding renewed again.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019