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Provinces reject new water
formula
ISLAMABAD: The government's efforts to get provinces agreed on
a new water distribution formula to permanently end the
inter-provincial differences have suffered a setback here on
Thursday in Irsa meeting when the provinces rejected the new
formula and opposed any change in the 1991 Water Accord.
The provinces have also warned the centre against imposition
of any 'compromised formula' to resolve the existing water
distribution issue, saying it would create more problems.
Meanwhile, the Irsa after its two days meeting on the subject
of evolution of a new water distribution formula in the light
of Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf has finalised its
recommendations for the CE secretariat and will forward them
to the authorities concerned for further action on Friday.
Giving details of the recommendations being sent to the CE
Secretariat for final decision, the Secretary Irsa told
journalists, after the meeting, the government was asked not
to introduce any changes in the 1991 Water Accord, rather
should get the interpretation of 14-B of the accord by an
independent body, as Punjab and Sindh have their own
interpretation of this clause, which deals with the
distribution of water shortage among the provinces.
The CE Secretariat is also being asked to not impose any
'compromised' formula on the
provinces saying it will not serve any desired purpose as the
federal government needed to address the primary issues being
raised by the Punjab and Sindh.
Giving the details of the deliberation of the meeting, the
Secretary Irsa said earlier on Wednesday Punjab and Sindh
members were asked to consult their provincial authorities
over the new water distribution arrangements being pushed by
the CE secretariat. Now, in Thursday meeting, the Irsa members
from both the provinces submitted their replies.
According to Punjab, it was not ready to accept the new water
distribution arrangements and warned against any violation of
its sanctity. The Punjab said it was not ready for any
compromised formula just to give an impression that the water
distribution issue had been settled as it was a serious issue
and should be resolved amicably.
The Punjab said the compromise on water rights would result in
creating more debate and issues that would not be resolved
easily. The Punjab emphasised that the government should
follow the 14-B of the Accord and should continue to
distribute water shortage on the basis of historical use
formula of 1994. Otherwise, it said the para-2 of the Accord
be implemented and distribute water among the provinces on the
basis of accord when the country has 117million acres of feet.
Sindh was of the view that it was not ready to accept the new
formula introduced by the NWFP saying if once the violation of
1991 Accord was done and subsequently accepted for short-term
benefits, it will open a Pandora box and then changes will
continue to occur and the situation will get grimmer.
Federal member of the Irsa was of the view that the water
formula given by the NWFP was not feasible mathematically
because, when the water availability will come down in the
country, both Punjab and Sindh--the productive provinces which
needed more water-- would suffer as the NWFP and Balochisan
would not share the shortages. He also pointed out that
'compromised formula' was not the real solution to the
existing disputes among the provinces.
Irsa member from Balochistan was of the view that water
distribution be done on the basis of para-2 of the Accord, but
said the provinces shares on the basis of this para were
actually not correct and this be changed to resolve the issue.
Irsa member from NWFP said that he had developed the new
formula on the direction of CE secretariat and according to
him, it was the best solution in the given circumstances.
According to NWFP formula, Sindh and Punjab be given water
shares on the average releases/basis of historical use 1994
and Water Accord of 1991. But, the provinces have unanimously
rejected this formula creating troubles for the CE
secretariat, which was quite optimistic about the breakthrough
as it was expecting the provinces would yield to federal
government pressure and agree to new water arrangements.
Courtesy The News Mar 08, 2002
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