Punjab can get more water from Thal Canal than its share: Rahim

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said on Monday the provincial government would have no objection if Punjab received more water from Thal Canal than its share. Replying to questions from reporters during his press conference at the Chief Minster’s House, he made it clear that the remodelling of Thal Canal, built in 1940, was under consideration by the federal government it was not the Greater Thal Canal. The PPP government in 1995 had given approval for increasing the capacity of Thal Canal from 7,000 cusecs to 9,000 cusecs that was later approved also by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, but it was not implemented, he said. The Federal Minister of Water and Power, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, had constituted a committee consisting of four irrigation secretaries to review the issue, he added. Referring to the proposed expansion of Thal Canal, he said: “Under whose instructions they (PPP workers and supporters) have become silent, though they were performing ‘Bhangra’ against the Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal till yesterday,” Rahim said. Answering a question, he said there was no need for a meeting between him and Asif Ali Zardari. He, however, added that his doors were open if Asif Zardari wanted to meet him. staff report

Home | National