Balochistan PA demands better services from Qesco

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Friday endorsed two resolutions with amendments that called for installation of electricity conductors and cables in parts of district Naseerabad and funds and machinery for levelling land in command areas of Mirani and Sabakzai dams. The first resolution was tabled by MPA Mir Zahoor Hussein Khosa. He said after torrential rains in 2006-07, the flood water inundated thousands of acres of land in district Naseerabad. Thieves stole the power cables and conductors after inhabitants of Tehsil Gandakha and Tambu left the area. He demanded of the Qesco authorities to reinstall the cables and conductors as the inhabitants had returned to their respective villages. Supporting the resolution, provincial minister Shafiq Ahmed Khan, Syed Ehsan Shah and Sheikh Haji Jaffar Khan Mandokhail said the federal government had announced Rs 8 billion as compensation for the flood-hit areas of districts Gawadar, Turbat and Pasni, which has not been paid as yet. They suggested that an early payment of the amount may also be made part of the resolution. The House unanimously passed the resolution with amendment. The second resolution was tabled by MPA Sheikh Haji Jaffar Khan. He suggested that the House should demand funds from the federal government for levelling land in command areas of Sabakzai and Mirani dams. Expressing satisfaction over the usefulness of the dams for promotion of agriculture in the respective districts, he stressed that the government should allocate funds for land levelling in order to utilise it for agriculture purposes. He added that maximum life of dams in Balochistan was 25 to 30 years due to desilting process and any further delay in this regard would result in wastage of billions of rupees. Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasey said the province lacked both funds and machinery for levelling the land. The bulldozers available with the provincial departments had completed their physical life and were not in a position to accomplish the heavy task. Moreover, the province was not in a position to pay an amount of Rs 500 million for land levelling. He added that the provincial government should demand 200 bulldozers from the federal government, which had still not been provided. Minister for Industries Syed Ehsan Shah said land-levelling in the command areas of these dams was the responsibility of the provincial government. But due to shortage of funds and required machinery, the provincial government was not in a position to launch work on land-levelling. He suggested that the federal government should take over the responsibility. Ministers Mir Asghar Rind and Mir Hamal Kalmati said after the construction of Mirani Dam, water level in Dasht River had fallen considerably. The river, which earlier irrigated some 0.3 million acres of lands, was now barely able to irrigate 30,000 acres. Even the inhabitants of some areas were facing an acute shortage of drinking water. He demanded that first, the residents should be provided drinking water. The House unanimously adopted the resolution. Speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhotani adjourned the House for Monday.