F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: IRSA has directed all the provinces to prepare new proposals for water distribution to the next meeting likely to be held next week, an official source said on Tuesday.
The direction was given in a meeting of IRSA presided over by Chairman Noor Mohammad Baloch on the direction of the Chief Executive office that the formula of water distribution amongst the provinces should be reviewed The meeting remained inconclusive to formulate a new formula of water distribution as the three provinces including Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan were insisting to continue following the formula chalked out in 1994 for water distribution amongst the provinces.
On the complaint of Punjab province filed with the Chief Executive Office that the water distribution according to the formula of 1994 bringing losses to the province and the yield of major crops like wheat could be damaged due to shortage of water, the Chief Executive office wrote to IRSA for convening a meeting to chalk out a new formula of water distribution.
The Punjab side presented its case in the meeting taking a stance that water distribution according to the 1994 formula, resulting 65 percent shortage of water for Rabi Crop (during winter till March) that may effect on the yield per acre of wheat crop.
The Punjab continued pleading its case that if wheat production in the province is effected than the country could have spent foreign exchange in procuring wheat from abroad.
Sindh province while pleading its case insisted to continue water distribution according to the 1994 accord while claiming that 61 percent water shortage used to be face by the province for Rabi Crop.
The provinces including NWFP and Balochistan sided with Sindh and insisted to continue water distribution in accordance with 1994 water accord.
However, following the complaint of Punjab, the IRSA chairman directed the participants to come with preparation on the new water distribution formula in the next meeting of IRSA that may take place next week.
Online adds: The provinces failed to agree on new water apportionment formula while Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has approved supply of seven thousand cusecs water daily from Mangla to the Pak army for defence requirements.
IRSA will now meet again a week later owing to non-presentation of recommendations from Punjab and Sindh.
Both provinces will submit their proposals in the meeting.
IRSA with the consent of all provinces decided to supply water about 7000 cusecs to army for defence needs daily from Mangla Dam.
The supply will be made from central level of the water.
=A9 Copyright 2001 The Frontier Post