The government has decided to constitute a new committee to further probe the findings of the enquiry report that holds former Indus Water Commissioner (IWC) Jamaat Ali Shah responsible for not timely informing the Ministry of Water and Power (MOWP) about the construction of 45 megawatts Nimoo Bazgo hydropower project by India on Indus River in the occupied Kashmir.
An official said the committee would further probe the inquiry report that holds former IWC responsible for negligence, as delay in informing the government allowed India to complete the project and get carbon credits from the United Nations (UN) despite the project’s location in a disputed territory. He said the former IWC had assured to participate in the committee’s hearings.
In a recent meeting of the National Assembly Special Committee on Energy Crisis, MOWP Secretary Imtiaz Kazi said the former IWC had left the country with ministry’s permission. He said his name was not placed on the Exit Control List and that he would return by mid February. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has already directed the MOWP to approach the Court of Arbitration (CoA) against India for constructing the hydropower project and receiving carbon credits from the UN. PM’s Advisor on Agriculture and Water Kamal Majidullah was finalising the members for the legal team to file the case in the CoA.
The enquiry was ordered after media reports criticised the government’s failure to block India’s construction of a water storage project in the disputed territory. India had constructed the reservoir in Leh district in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. An enquiry conducted by the secretary of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had held the former IWC responsible. Since he had retired by the time the enquiry report was completed, the MOWP forwarded the report to the Establishment Division recommending to stop his pension.
