News
Thursday, July 08, 2010
CJ Link Canal reopening sparks new controversy* IRSA’s federal, Sindh members resign in protest
* Federal govt considering removing Shafqat Masood from postISLAMABAD: Controversy over the Indus River System Authority’s (IRSA) decision to open the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal (CJLC) worsened on Wednesday as the federal and Sindh members of the authority resigned from their posts.
According to a private TV channel, federal IRSA member Bashir Dahar and Sindh member Muhammad Khan Memon have resigned from their posts to protest the IRSA acting chairman’s decision to open the canal.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa representative Aman Gul Khattak had also resigned from his post, while the Balochistan member is on a two-month leave. Official sources have revealed that the federal government is now considering the removal of the acting IRSA chairman over his decision to open the canal despite the opposition of three provinces.
Sources told Daily Times that acting chairman Shafqat Masood decided to open the canal by using his discretionary powers to provide irrigation water for kharif crops in southern Punjab.
IRSA earlier increased Sindh’s water share to 190,000 cusecs.
The sources stated that the federal government was seriously considering the removal of Masood, as his decision had increased the controversy over water distribution between Punjab and Sindh.
Sources in IRSA stated that if the link canal had not been opened, the authority would have to provide water to southern Punjab from the Mangla Dam, which was already low on water.
The sources said 6,000 cusecs of water was earlier released in the link canal in February and 4,000 cusecs in May. At the time, both Sindh and Balochistan did not object to the decision.
However, during the IRSA meeting held on June 30, both Balochistan and the federal government strongly opposed the demand of Punjab to reopen the canal. Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had not participated in the meeting as a protest. On the other hand, informal discussion continues within IRSA on the appointment of the authority’s new chairman.
Reliable resources told Daily Times that the provinces, especially Sindh, have strong reservations about the appointment of the authority’s new head from Punjab.
It is now the turn of the Punjab member, Shafqat Masood, to head the authority. However, Sindh has expressed reservations against Masood.
The irrigation department secretary could be given the responsibilities of the chairman till consensus is reached on the nomination of a new official to fill the post.
Sindh condemns: Talking to media, Sindh Irrigation Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah confirmed that the federal government had decided to remove the acting chairman from his position. He said reopening of the canal despite the opposition of the provinces proved that the acting IRSA chairman was unfit for the job as he failed to resolve the differences among the provinces.
Authorities in Sindh have rejected the orders of opening the canal. A high-level meeting presided over by the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah condemned the decision. The provincial government termed the decision illegal and unconstitutional, and decided to approach the federal government. “The decision will leave a negative impact on the province’s economy and harm its agriculture,” the officials observed during the meeting. staff report/dail times monitor
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk