Sindh, Balochistan Form Secretaries Committee To Resolve Water Issues

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 09th Feb, 2017 ) : Sindh and Balochistan governments have constituted a joint secretaries committee to resolve their water-related issues and remove encroachments from common canal systems for smooth irrigational supplies.

The decision was made in a meeting held here between the two chief ministers -- Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah and Balochistan CM Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, said a statement issued here on Thursday. Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali specially attended the meeting.

While MPAs Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, Mir Dostain Khan Domki, Tariq Magsi, Majid Abro, Mir Asim Kurd, Izhar Hussain Khoso, Adviser Haji Khan Lehri and Secretary Irrigation Balochistan Saleem Awan were also present in the meeting.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was assisted by provincial ministers Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Manzoor Wassan, Dr Sikandar Mendhro, Jam Mehtab Dahar and Secretary Irrigation Junaid Memon.

The inter-provincial issues between Sindh and Balochistan raised by Mir Zafrullah Jamali on behalf of Balochistan government include short supplies of water in Pat Feeder and Khirthar Canal, removal of encroachment from Pat feeders Canal embankments, pumping of drainage effluent into Khirthar Canal, delay in timely completion of RBOD-III projects and distribution of Hub Dam storage (water) between Sindh and Balochistan.

The Sindh Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Irrigation Minister, proposed to constitute a two-member committee comprising Secrearies of Irrigation of both provinces to study the ways and means to solve water issue.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri welcomed the decision and said, "We both are brothers and will resolve all issues amicably." The Balochistan Chief Minister said that there are encroachments on the Patfeeder Canal embankments from RD-0 to RD125, the portion of Sindh, therefore there are issues of de-silting.

The flow of water has been affected badly, he added. The Sindh Chief Minister directed the Commissioner Larkana to remove encroachments in consultation with the Balochistan government. Murad Ali Shah said that main Patfeeder Canal from 0 to 172 km is being remodeled and widened for additional discharge of 1860 cusecs to enable Balochistan government to irrigate 205,000 acres in tail-end areas of District Nasirabad and Jhal Magsi.

The Balochistan Chief Minister urged the Sindh Chief Minister to allow opening of one additional siphon to pass Balochistan effluent through RBOD-III. Murad Ali Shah agreed to the proposal and directed the Secretary Irrigation to visit the areas and report him before opening the other siphon.

Both the chief ministers agreed to hold another high-powered meeting in Quetta in March to review the progress of the decisions made in Thursday's meeting. The Sindh Chief Minister hosted lunch for visiting Balochistan delegation and presented them memento, Ajrak, caps and CDs of Sindhi music.