In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, startling revelation was made by committee member Poonjo Bheel, who accused dacoits of Katcha of illegally selling water from the Sindh region.
This claim sparked a tense debate, particularly when the contentious issue of the Kala Bagh Dam was raised.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, saw Poonjo Bheel express frustration over what he described as rampant water theft in Sindh, which has left the province's farmers struggling for their livelihood.
Bheel emphasized that despite the theft, no authority has stepped in to address the issue, and the federation, along with other provinces, has refused to take responsibility.
The discussion took a heated turn when committee member Humayun Mohmand demanded transparency regarding the Kala Bagh Dam, urging that scientific research on the project be made public.
Mohmand questioned why there had been no recent discussions about the dam, suggesting that the issue should be revisited to bring clarity to its potential impact.
Ponjo Bhil, however, firmly opposed the inclusion of the Kala Bagh Dam in the discussion, stating that it was not on the meeting’s agenda. He argued that Sindh has already faced significant injustices and that any discussion on the Kala Bagh Dam would only exacerbate these grievances. He insisted that the focus should remain on addressing the water issues plaguing Sindh, rather than reopening old wounds.
The debate highlighted the ongoing tensions between provinces over water resources, with Sindh representatives expressing deep concern over the mismanagement and alleged theft of their water.
The meeting also included a briefing by a WAPDA member, who informed the committee that the Chashma Lift Canal project, estimated to cost Rs 190 billion, was approved by the Council of Common Interests in 2017.
The Additional Secretary for Water Resources added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would fully fund the project.
