6th meeting of the Standing Committee on Water Resources held today at 11:00 a.m. in Committee Room No. 7, 4th Floor, Parliament House, Islamabad under the Chairmanship of Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur, MNA.

Meeting of Standing Committee commenced with the recitation of Holy Quran. The Committee approved the minutes of its last meeting dated 20th May, 2019. Secretary Ministry of Water Resources briefed and answered the question of the members about the implementation status of the previous recommendations of the committee. The Committee was satisfied on the briefing. However, a Sub-Committee was constituted on the proposal of the Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and the request of the members of last Sub-Committee as the time frame of 30 days of said Sub-Committee was lapsed without completing the assigned task. While responding to the observations of Mr Ali Nawaz Awan, MNA the Chairman of the Committee enhanced the TORs of the new Sub-Committee with observation that the said member may be invited as special invitee in the meeting of the Sub-Committee for taking the CDA on board. The said Sub-Committee will report to the S/C on Water Resources within 30 days as per rule.

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (Amendments) Bill, 2019 being an agenda item was deferred due to non availability of the Mover of the Bill.

The Secretary of the Ministry and Member (Water), WAPDA briefed the Committee on the issue of land acquisition for Dasu Hydro Power Project and informed that SMBR, KPK has promised during the 14th meeting of PSC that the district administration will acquire the land in priority area (1247 acres) with in 6 month and the remaining land within in one year of revised land acquisition plan subject to its approval from ECNEC. He further apprised that ECNEC in its meeting held on October 2, 2019, approved revised land acquisition plan on the  proposal of the Ministry but minutes are awaited so requested that SMBR KPK may be directed to full-fill his promise for acquisition of land to start the project as per proposed plan without any delay. The summary of total land required for the said project is detailed as:-

The Member (Water) WAPDA further briefed the committee that as per revised plan of cost of acquisition of land increased from 19 billion to 37 billion and the said additional increase of Rs. 18 billion (37-19) will be borne by WAPDA from its equity and local commercial financing.

The Committee showed its displeasure to the Secretary Irrigation of all four Provinces due to their lower level representation in committee meeting on the agenda item regarding IRSA to brief the committee on water distribution amongst the provinces and its shortages. The Chairman IRSA and other Members briefed the committee but due to non-availability of Secretaries irrigation of all four provinces, aforementioned Sub-Committee was constituted and the Provincial Secretaries of Irrigation were directed to appear for their positive input in the report of the Sub-Committee.