The Technical Committee on Water Resources (TCWR) has succeeded in developing 80 percent consensus on 'Terms of Reference' (ToRs) of water availability in the country, criteria of filling of Mangla dam and operation of link canals. Talking to newsmen, TCWR Chairman A N G Abbasi said that the three days' process of consultations and briefings had enabled the committee to understand the apprehensions and observations of the stakeholders on different water-related issues.

He, however, admitted that the committee has failed to develop consensus on the method of calculation of water availability from 1977 or from 1991 so far.

According to Punjab and Wapda estimates, 156 MAF water would be available for future reservoirs, while Sindh was of the view that only 128 MAF, or less, water would be available, which is not enough to justify the construction of dams in the country.

The committee in its next meeting, to be held some time next month, would take up the ToRs of future big dams and, to this effect, Wapda and Planning Commission would give their presentations.

He said that the Technical Committee would also review water distribution under 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, as Sindh is of the view that present water distribution mechanism is not as per that Accord.

Besides the members of the Technical Committee who attended the meeting, Senator Nisar A Memon, Chairman, Preliminary Committee on Water Resources, and representatives of Wapda and Irsa were also present in the session held on December 20, 2004.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004