ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources on Thursday decided to debate violations of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) committed by India from time to time in its forthcoming meeting.
Presided over by Senator Musadik Masood Malik, the Committee was scheduled to discuss the issue of IWT but consideration of this issue was deferred due to absence of the mover, i.e. Senator Seeme Ezdi. She had submitted a starred question regarding “details of violations committed by India under the IWT causing water scarcity in Pakistan, indicating also the details of those articles of IWT violation by India so far”.
Senate standing committee discussed in detail security and safety issues related to the Ghazi Brotha Channel and underground water levels of Pakistan’s four provinces in which the discussion focused around Sindh.
The meeting commenced with a briefing on safety matters related to the Ghazi Brotha Hydropower Project; a Point of Public Importance raised by Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah was referred to the Committee by the House. The Committee enquired about the reasons for rising safety issues while access by citizens.
Terming such water bodies, a poor man’s swimming pool it was asserted that provisions be made to ensure access to the public, while beefing up safety measures. It was asserted that life guards be employed around certain parts of the channel to curb loss of life. Promotion of waters sports was sought.
Enquiring about the reasons for increased fatality of the Ghazi Brotha Channel that has claimed the life of 124 individuals the Committee was informed the main reason for this was it being a Power Channel with a velocity of 7.6 feet per hour. The Ghazi Brotha Hydropower Project is a Mega run-of-the–river project of WAPDA generating 1450MW electricity which in addition to safety issues is prone to national security matters as well. The 36 Km service road has been protected with guard rail/crash barrier at critical location along the Power Channel.
The Committee asserted that WAPDA officers must be given authority to protect and penalise infringement of barriers. The Committee directed the Ministry to devise a complete plan on matters discussed and submit it to the Committee within three months.
Reviewing details of underground water levels in Sindh, the Committee showed concern regarding lack of information of the Public Health Engineering and Rural Development Department, Sindh.
The Committee decided to convey its displeasure to Secretary Public Health Engineering and Rural Development Department, Sindh for nominating an irrelevant officer.
The Committee also censured Special Secretary Irrigation, Jamaluddin Mangan for not sharing underground data of water and water logging.
The Committee stressed the need for the Department to review projects and devise a plan to ensure water tables are developed. It was asserted that details of plans to deal with water logging and salinity, including maintenance of RO Plants and LBOD channels, be presented to the Committee as well.
The Committee was disconcerted that 70 percent of RO Plants installed in Sindh were in non-working condition. Directives were given for a complete report to be presented on measures to reduce water logging and salinity by 30 percent in the province, in accordance with the Indus Water Accord of 1991.
The meeting was attended by Senator Sana Jamali, Senator Taj Haider, Senator Gurdeep Singh, Senator Dr Muhammad Humayun Mohmand, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, Senator Shaheen Khalid Butt and senior officers from the Ministry of Water Resources, IRSA along with all concerned.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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