ISLAMABAD: In a unilateral decision, the acting chairman of Indus River System Authority, Shafqat Masud, has asked the Water and Power Development Authority to open Chashma-Jhelum link canal and start releasing 10,000 cusecs through the canal despite opposition from members representing the federal and Sindh governments.

Irsa sources said Sindh’s water share had also been increased by 10,000 cusecs to 200,000 cusecs as demanded by the provincial government.

Sources close to the federal and Sindh government members said Mr Masud discussed the issue of opening of the CJ canal with federal member Bashir Dahar who opposed the proposal.

The sources said the acting chairman, who is also Punjab member, had also taken up the matter with the Sindh member on telephone who had also opposed opening of the canal.

The two provinces have been involved in a bitter controversy over the opening of CJ link canal for about six months now.

In February, Sindh’s member requested the provincial government that since he had been aggrieved over a majority decision of Irsa in favour of Punjab on CJ opening, he should be called back from Irsa in protest.

The Sindh government did not agree to his request, but registered its protest with the federal government.

Only a day later, the Balochistan government withdrew its Irsa member for supporting Punjab’s cause instead of Sindh.

The Balochistan government felt that Sindh would not release Balochistan’s water share in case it suffered shortages itself. The decision to withdraw its member was, however, rescinded subsequently.

As the controversy over the CJ canal prolonged, the Punjab government started criticising the Irsa’s role as a judicious regulator and claimed that two members from Sindh (a Sindh member and a federal member with Sindh domicile) were instrumental in taking decisions against Punjab’s interest because of their majority.

As a result, the Punjab government demanded re-composition of Irsa and threatened to withdraw its membership. Its member started abstaining from Irsa meetings after the threat.

But even before the Punjab member’s return to Irsa, Chairman Aman Gul Khattak went on leave for two weeks, extended it for another two weeks and then submitted his resignation on health grounds.

The Punjab government had written to Irsa last week to open CJ link canal by releasing 15,000 cusecs water through it.

A meeting of Irsa, presided over by Punjab member Shafqat Masood considered Punjab’s request for opening of CJ last week but was opposed by Sindh and federal members.

It was, therefore, decided through a majority vote to review the water situation after four days and reconsider Punjab’s request for opening of CJ canal.

On Tuesday, however, Irsa’s acting chairman and member Punjab directed Wapda to release 10,000 cusecs through CJ link canal.

Courtesy by dawn.com