Lack of water storage capacity caused $600b loss in past 44 years, MPs told.

Byline: Fawad Yousafzai

ISLAMABAD -- Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources was Thursday informed that lack of water storage capacity in the country had caused a financial loss of $600 billion during past 44 years.

While briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, it was informed by Chairman IRSA Rao Irshad Ali Khan that when it comes to water storage, in the last 44 years other countries had made progress while Pakistan had gone backward and wasted water worth $600 billion.

The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, which met with Shammim Afridi in the chair, was informed that the country's total water storage capacity was 15.7 million acre feet (MAF) in 1976 which had reduced to 13.6 MAF.

The committee discussed Net Hydel Profit (NHP), Warsak dam royalty, grievances of affectees of Neelum Jhelum Power Project, installation of telemetry system for distribution of water among the provinces and water distribution accord among the provinces.

The committee was informed that out of total Rs 248 billion hydel net profit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 205 billion has been paid so far while arrears of Rs 43 billion were still pending. Secretary Water Resources said WAPDA was regularly paying NHP to KP on time.

Regarding Warsak Dam affectees, Secretary Water Resources informed the committee that 60 percent area of Warsak dam was located in Mohmand while 40 percent in Khyber erstwhile FATA agencies. The dam affectees have claimed that the province was utilizing the royalty in the entire province, he said. It was a not only a provincial subject but also discretion of the provincial government, he added.

Regarding water storages and availability, chairman Indus River System Authority (IRSA) told the committee that the country's total water storage capacity was 15.7 million acre feet (MAF) in 1976 which had...