The sixth meeting of the Standing Committee on Water Resources was held on Wednesday under the Chairmanship of Nawab Muhammad Yusuf Talpur, MNA. The meeting of the committee commenced with the recitation of holy Quran.
The Committee unanimously approved the minutes of its meeting held on 15th October 2019. While discussing the agenda item iii regarding issuance of NOC by IRSA to propose 25 MW power project in Khushab district on Chashma-Jehlum link canal to M/S C-J Hydro (Pvt.) Limited, The Secretary Irrigation Sind briefed the Committee that NOC was issued without the consultation of Sindh Government. He further informed that such type of NOC in favour of Sind was regretted by NEPRA in 2016. He requested to cancel the NOC as issued by IRSA in violation of Water Accord 1991.
On the other hand, IRSA has view that Indus river system was apportioned through Water Accord 1991 and its para 14 (d) provide the freedom to the stakeholders to modify system-wise and period wise uses within their allocations so the NOC in question was issued accordingly under the IRSA Act. However, he suggested that aggrieved party has all right within the section 8(3) of IRSA Act to approach the Council of Common Interest (CCI) against the decision of IRSA. The Secretary M/o Water Resources informed the Committee that as the NOC was issued by IRSA under the IRSA Act, so the recommendation of the committee to cancel the NOC is not based on the facts.
The Committee has unanimously suggested that the Council of Common Interest (CCI) may be called at the earliest to discuss the said issue and till such date the further processing of the project in question may be stopped as the Sindh Assembly has also passed the unanimous resolution on the disputed issue. The Committee also suggested that IRSA may consult the Govt. of Sind on the disputed matter of NOC.
The Committee while discussing the agenda item iv regarding small and medium dam under construction and planning stage for twin city was deferred with the view that the matter may be placed before the sub-committee already appointed by the Standing Committee on Water Resources during its last meeting by enhancing the ToRs i.e i) Non release of outstanding operations and maintenance (O&M) Charges by the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and Water and Sanitation Agency Rawalpindi (WASA) in respect of Metropolitan Water Supply Project, Khanpur. ii) Proposed small and medium dam (under construction and at planning stage) for Rawalpindi and Islamabad.—PR
