Telemetry system needed at ‘24 locations on Indus’

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources on Wednesday directed the ministry to install a telemetry system, besides removing all illegal construction on the bank of Kunhar River to address the issue of water distribution.

The committee, which met with Khalid Magsi as the chair, was informed that the issue of water distribution among the provinces needed to be addressed. To have the accurate measurement, there was a need for a telemetry system, officials said.

The committee was also informed that there were 24 points on the Indus River, where the telemetry system would be installed. However, in the first phase, the system would be installed at seven points. The setting up of the telemetry system would be completed in 2026, the committee heard.

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had been authorised to install the system for the Indus River System Authority (Irsa). The committee recommended that the government should extend its help for the timely installation of the telemetry system.

The convener of a subcommittee, Riazul Haq, presented the report on the pollution in Indus and Kunhar rivers. The subcommittee visited different places on the bank of River Kunhar and noted that there were 189 illegally constructed buildings. The subcommittee recommended the removal of all of the illegal buildings.

The committee approved the report of the subcommittee, unanimously. The standing committee was informed that, previously, the subcommittee was not allowed by the authority concerned to visit Kunhar and Sindh rivers. Therefore, it visited only the Kunhar river with the permission of Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

The committee appointed another subcommittee, led by Haq and comprising Afreen Khan, Wajiha Qamar, and Nuzhat Pathan, to examine the pollution in the Sindh river in consultation with the provinces and submit its report within 30 days.