National Water Policy 2016 Being Worked Out, Senate Body Told

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) : The Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power was apprised on Monday that National Water Policy 2016 was being worked out and it would be presented in Council of Common Interests (CCI) after consultation with all the provinces.

The committee, which met here with Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi in the chair, reviewed the report regarding adjournment motion moved by Sherry Rehman about Indus Water Treaty 1960 in the backdrop of statements of Indian leadership, appointment of daily wages, contractual and regular employees made by WAPDA etc.

Briefing the Senate panel, Secretary Water and Power Muhammad Younus Daga said India could utilize water only under the Water Treaty. The government took prompt measures over Ratlay dam, he said.

He said effective response would be given if India dared to violate the Water Treaty. There were other international forums, besides the Indus Water Treaty to resolve the issue, he added. The committee was apprised that 38 more power grid stations would be set up with an estimated cost of Rs 20 billion in next five years.

Batkhela Grid Station had already been approved and land for it would be acquired by December. WAPDA Chairman Gen (R) Muzammil Hussain informed the committee that a total of 584 persons were recruited in the authority during last one year.

Sixty-eigth of them were recruited on daily wages and 516 on contract, he added. He said Rs 3 billion was paid to pensioners annually. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman said results of National Testing Service were not satisfactory, so it was decided that the authority would itself conduct tests and interviews to fill the vacant posts.

He said WAPDA had its own recruitment committees and experts and tests would be conducted this month to fill the vacant posts. Senator Nisar Muhammad said vacant posts should be filled under WAPDA's own recruitment's rules.

Senator Daud Achakzai also endorsed the view point of Nisar Muhammad and said the NTS Chairman had left the country after his degree was proved fake. Sherry Rehman said India was constructing various dams in violation of Indus Water Treaty.

Construction of further dams by India would also affect Mangla dam, she said. Senator Nouman Wazir said steps should be taken to upgrade the power distribution system as the existing system was already overloaded.

The meeting was attended by Senators Nisar Muhammad, Daud Achakzai, Maulana Attaur Rehman, Ghous Muhammad, Zafarullah, Ahmed Hassan, Nouman Wazir, Chairman WAPDA and other senior officials.