Non-provision of funds for Mangla dam victims: AJK government to lodge protest against GoP

The newly elected Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) government has reportedly decided to register protest with President Asif Ali Zardari against the government of Pakistan for not extending the funds committed meant for the affectees of Mangla dam raising project, sources close to Minister for Kashmir Affairs told Business Recorder.
The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Majeed will also lodge a complaint against Sindh government, which is opposing allocation of 613.60 cusecs of water from Mangla dam for drinking and other purposes, sources added. According to sources, Mangla dam raising works have been completed whereas resettlement works are still pending due to paucity of funds.
An amount of Rs 2.318 billion for payment of compensation, Rs 5.549 billion for completion of resettlement of works and Rs 1.736 billion to clear liabilities of contractors of main work had been allocated whereas Rs 6 billion have been allocated during 2011-12 against demand of Rs 13 billion. Scarcity of funds has seriously affected the resettlement process, resultantly required benefits are not accruing from the project.
In the preparatory meeting held on September 10, 2011, chaired by Secretary Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan (KA&GB) the representative of Planning and Development Division stated that demand for additional funds will be considered subject to availability of funds.
The three-member committee comprising Secretary KA&NA, Chief Secretary AJK and Chairman Wapda was constituted to consider the demand of AJK government to provide additional plots for extended families of affectees of Mangla dam raising project.
The committee recommended that the demand be met and accordingly as per direction of the Planning Division Wapda prepared a separate PC-1 for Rs 10.423 billion through Nespak. Cost of land will be borne by the AJK government whereas cost of development will be borne by the GoP. The AJK government has identified about 17213 kanals of land for development of townships. The PC-1 was discussed in the pre-CDWP meeting on August 23, 2011 for submission to CDWP/ ECNEC for approval.
In the preparatory meeting held on September 10, 2011 chaired by Secretary KA&GB the representative of Planning and Development Division stated that the PC-1 would be placed in the next meeting of CDWP for consideration.
The agreement for raising of Mangla dam's clause 6.2 states that Wapda shall cater for the drawing of drinking water from the lake. The government of AJK requirement of water for irrigation purposes shall be taken up with Irsa. The Ministry of KA&NA and SAFRON, shall represent government at Irsa.
In pursuance of the agreement of raising of Mangla dam, consultations have been held with stakeholders by Ministry of Water and Power in water apportionment and allocation of Indus Water. A committee under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power was constituted to determine the quantity of water needed for drinking and irrigation purposes. The committee recommended 613.6 cusecs of water (126 cusecs for drinking and industrial usage, 418 cusecs for irrigation, 63 cusecs for fisheries and 6.6 cusecs for livestock) for AJK.
A summary for allocation of 613.60 cusecs water was submitted by the Ministry of Water and Power on July 8, 2009 for executive order of Prime Minister, which was returned by the Prime Minister's Secretariat with the directive that " Minister for Water and Power should meet with the Chief Ministers of the three provinces which have opposed the proposed allocation of water for AJK under the Mangla dam raising project and try to build consensus on the agreement before the matter may be considered in the Inter Provincial Co-ordination Committee (IPCC) meeting".
The summary for Council of Common Interests (CCI), proposing allocation of 613.60 cusecs of water for AJK was prepared and sent to Ministry of IPC on May 20, 2011 but it was withdrawn so as to first build consensus for allocation of water to AJK out of the proportionate allocation of each province. Minister for Water and Power, discussed the issue with the Chief Minister, Sindh on July 1, 2011, who did not accede to the proposal. Sources said AJK Prime Minister would take up this issue with President Asif Ali Zardari very soon.