Assembly Business

List of Business

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH

ORDERS OF THE DAY

FRIDAY, THE 26^TH MARCH, 2021

I.      (A)    RECITATION FROM THE HOLY QUR’AN.

(B)    NAAT SHAREEF.

II.     QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

(Irrigation Department)

III.    CALL ATTENTION NOTICES:

01-     CALL ATTENTION NOTICE NO. 02 OF 2021;GIVEN NOTICE OF BY MR. SHAHZAD QURESHI, MPA: I would like to draw the attention of the House to the serious concerns which needs immediate action in order to relief citizens of Karachi. It is been observed and witnessed that there is a serious shortage / lack of space of graveyards in the Karachi City where people are helpless finding burial space for their loved ones. These graveyards must not be under any specific mafia or any political influence but rather should be available for local resident on a minimal cost. The Honourable Minister for Local Government, Sindh may please give answer/ statement in this regard?

02-     CALL ATTENTION NOTICE NO. 05 OF 2021;GIVEN NOTICE OF BY MS. RANA ANSAR, MPA: Will the Honourable Minister for Women Development, Sindh may please to give answer/ statement that women’s economic situation has greatly affected during COVID-19; What steps have been taken by the Government to deal this situation; Furnish detail thereof?

03-     CALL ATTENTION NOTICE NO. 04 OF 2021;GIVEN NOTICE OF BY MS. RABIA KHATOON, MPA: Will the Honourable Minister for Local Government, Sindh may please to give answer/ statement that problems faced by the people due to the destruction of roads in Karachi City and resulting severe traffic jams. What steps are being taken by the Government in this regard?

04-     CALL ATTENTION NOTICE NO. 01 OF 2021;GIVEN NOTICE OF BY MR. ARSALAN TAJ HUSSAIN, MPA: Will the Honourable Minister for Information, Sindh may please to give answer/ statement about rise in attacks against journalist in the Sukkur?                    

IV.    LEAVE APPLICATION OF MEMBERS, IF ANY.

V.     PRIVILEGE MOTION, IF ANY.

VI.    ADJOURNMENT MOTION NO. 02 OF 2021;GIVEN NOTICE OF BY MS. GHAZALA SIAL, MPA REGARDING PROLONGED GAS LOAD-SHEDDING FOR INDUSTRIAL UNITS.

VII.   LAYING BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY REPORT ON 1^ST BIANNUAL MONITORING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL FINANCE COMMISSION (NFC) AWARD FOR THE PERIOD JULY-DECEMBER, 2018 AS REQUIRED UNDER CLAUSE 3(B) OF ARTICLE 160 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN.

             VIII.  INTRODUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT BILL NO. 25 OF 2020-THE SINDH INSTITUTE OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ART BILL, 2020.

X.     ANY OTHER BUSINESS WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR.

KARACHI, THE                                     G.M.UMAR FAROOQ

25^TH MARCH, 2021                                    SECRETARY

        PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH

Summary of Proceedings

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH

IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT

LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR

FRIDAY THE 26^TH MARCH, 2021

141.     *Mr. Arif Mustafa Jatoi:       Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

            The number and location of delay action dams built from July 1, 2013 to-date?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

155.     *Mr. Arif Mustafa Jatoi:       Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a  fact that Mr. Baber Effendi, former SE Rohri division is under inquiry for embezzling over 70 million rupees in repair funds for Bunds which has been pending for over 5 years;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

The Irrigation Department have reported that Mr.Babar Effendi, former Superintending Engineer

 (BS-19) Rohri Division is not facing/enquiry pertaining to repair of bunds.

163.     *Mr. Arif Mustafa Jatoi:       Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)     Is it a fact that transit losses in all rivers are borne by Sindh and are not deducted in the Water Accord allocations amongst the Provinces;

(b)     If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the reasons thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

It is not fact. Transit losses in all rivers are not borne by Sindh Province. Only the canal withdrawals at three barrages are included in the water account of the province.

359.     *Ms. Nusrat Sehar Abbasi:    Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that a project restoration / rehabilitation of Hairo distry from RD-8 to 53 and extension RD-53 to 83 Jacobabad with cost of Rs. 184.776 millions is to be completed by June 2019 ;

(b)   If answer to (a) above be in affirmative, detail of work completed todate?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

No. The project Restoration/Rehabilitation of Hairo Distry from RD-8 to 53 and extension RD-53 to 83 has already been completed during the year 2017-18.

905.     *Mr. Khurram Sher Zaman: Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that Mirpurkhas is facing water shortage due to water course supplying water to Siaal Colony water supply scheme has been seized;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the reasons thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

The water supply to Siaal Colony is being provided for drinking water through main pipe line from East Jamrao Canal regularly, so far the question of seizure of supply of drinking water is concerned there is no hindrance on the part of Irrigation Department.

1355.   *Ms. Sidra Imran:      Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

Under what principles canals cleaning procedure is carried-out and are we following any international standard?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Canal cleaning/desiliting is carried out on following principles:

·         Canals are designed on self-cleaning velocity as such on consistent discharge shall not require any desiliting.

·         Due to fluctuation in flow sitting occurs in distributaries and minors which are desilted on rotation basis, not earlier than three years.

·         The allocated budget is distributed in five irrigation regions against the earmarked allocation the Chief Engineers prepare program of works for desiliting and get it executed within the financial premises.

·         Preferably the work of desiliting is assigned to mechanical division for execution by the Govt. machinery. However relaxation exits for execution by contractors, subject to non-availability of Govt. machinery.

·         Internationally mostly silt free water is used for irrigation purpose, which do not need silt clearance, where as in Pakistan flow from Indus has in system is utilized which is heavily silted. No, international standard for canal cleaning exists as it depends to real time cases as per site condition.

1613.   *Ms. Ghazala Siyal:   Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

Number of dams at present being constructed in the Province along with the physical position of the same?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Sixty two small dams stands constructed under administration of Irrigation Department so far, status of which are as under:-

1884.   *Ms. Adeeba Hassan: Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

Amount allocated for repair and maintenance of Sukkur Barrage during 2017-18 along with amount actually spent and detail of work carried out?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

In the year 2017-18 an amounting of Rs. 57,500,000/ were allocated out of which Rs.56,062,500/- were spent on the Headwork’s of Sukkur Barrage, from which the following repair and maintenance works of Sukkur Barrage its allied structure were carried out.

1909.   *Mr. Jamaluddin Siddiqui:     Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)  Is it a fact that agriculture in lower Sindh has been devastated due to unjustified water distribution;

(b)  If answer to (a) above is affirmative, steps taken by the Government to save the agriculture?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

In fact, irrigation water is being distributed fairly and equitably as per availability in the system and there is no shortage of irrigation water in the lover Sindh.

1910.   *Mr. Jamaluddin Siddiqui:     Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that influential land lords are cultivating 100% their land on water of Mithrao and Jumrao Canal;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, steps taken by the government to stop unjustified water distribution? 

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

It is not fact, as all Modules of Jamrao & Mithrao main Canal, Distributary & Minors off taking from these Canals have been rectified as per their design dimension, therefore it is not possible that any land lord can be cultivated 100% their land.

1911.   *Mr. Jamaluddin Siddiqui:     Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that small farmers are cultivating only 10% their land on water of Mithrao and Jumrao canal;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, steps taken by the government to stop such impartial distribution of waters?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Each and every land holder is being provided irrigation water equitably as per their holding and availability of irrigation water in canal system. They are cultivating their land as per design intensity.

2442.   *Mr. Saeed Ahmed:    Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that Department is taking steps to bring betterment in canal system;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the District-wise details thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Yes, it is fact that Sindh Irrigation Department has taken up steps for betterment of canal system. The avenue left to cope up with situation is water conservation, which can be achieved by Lining of Channels, as considerable losses during conveyance has been observed in Irrigation Network, which accumulate to 65% . The department proposes to line at least 50 Channels every year, which will prevent irrigation water from going waste and conserve it for additional cultivation.

During current financial year Block Allocation for Lining of Main Canals to Rs.5070.000 million is earmarked in ADP- 2019-20.

The District wise details of such lining schemes being executed in past years are at Annexure A&B. Placed on the Table of the House.

2656.   *Mr. Shah Nawaz Jadoon:    Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that small dams organization was established for construction of small dams in the Province;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Yes, it is a fact that the Small Dams Organization Sindh, Hyderabad was established in the year 2007 for construction of Small Dams to store/recharge rain water in Hilly/Arid Zone areas of Sindh Province. Up till now 64 Small Dams have been completed, 28 are ongoing and 15 Dams are to be launched in the current financial year.

Details of Locations of Small dams and the benefited area is at Annexure Placed on the Table of the House.

2657.   *Mr. Shah Nawaz Jadoon:    Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that Sindh Government approved PC-1 of 40 dams but work could not start due to un-availability of funds;

(b)    If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the reasons thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

There is no approved PC-I for construction of 40 dams in Small Dams Organization Region Sindh, Hyderabad.

However, at present 12 Nos. dams are ongoing under various ADP schemes and the same will be finalized / completed during the current financial year. Further all the schemes are fully funded by the Government of Sindh. (Division-wise status ADP Schemes is at Annexure Placed on the Table of the House.

2658.   *Mr. Shah Nawaz Jadoon:    Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that four locations have been selected for construction of new dams on River Indus;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof? 

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

There is no such scheme of new Dams on the River Indus is underway within the Jurisdiction of Sindh Province.

However, Small Dams Organization is constructing Small dams/Weir in the hill areas of Kohistan Range, Karoojhar Range & Quba qadir Bux Hills on Hill torrents to conserve rain water, So far 64 small dams completed and 35 are under construction. Cumulative capacity of theses dams is 0.45 MAF and benefits 250000 acres by ground aquifers recharging.

2797.   *Ms. Rana Ansar:      Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that due to not desiliting of canal water could not reach in tail areas of Mirpurkhas resulting people, animals and fields are being affected;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the step taken in this regard? 

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Most chronic / deficient channels have been converted into lined channel and the  de-silting work is carried out as per site requirements,. Thus all channels are getting their due share of water and there is no any complaint from tail enders of Mirpurkhas Division.  

2869.   *Mr. Muhammad Aslam Abro:         Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that Government has taken any loan from Asian Bank, World Bank or any other forum for different schemes;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Yes, it is fact the Government has taken loan from Asian Development Bank and world Bank for following Projects:-

2899.   *Ms. Adeeba Hassan: Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)      Is it a fact that department has developed plans to address the un-equal distribution of water;

(b)      If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the detail thereof?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

The department is taking efforts to restore the tail of all channels as per design parameters and the tempered outlets have been rectified and adjusted as per sanction design dimensions and equitable water supply is being provided to all stack holders as per their due share, Now all channels are taking due share of water and resolved the problems of  Abadgars, If any complain regarding mismanagement of water is received,  it is rapidly addressed by taking action against theft of water beside this monitoring team has been constituted to keep strict watch over the regulation irrigation water round the clock.

2982.   *Mr. Rabistan Khan: Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that steps were taken by the Government for improvement and development of irrigation system in the Province during 2017-18;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof including amount incurred?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Yes, improvement in irrigation system is not limited to 2017-18, a regular feature in form of ADP during this particular fiscal year size of ADP was Rs.22, 00 Billion 69 new schemes were started 287 ongoing schemes were completed and commissioned. Detail of ADP 2017-18 progress report at end of year is at annexure Placed on the Table of the House.

2987.   *Mr. Omar Omari:    Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that  amount was sanctioned for repair & maintenance of Kotri Barrages during 2016-17 and 2017-18;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the detail thereof including amount spent and work carried-out?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

The details of funds released and expenditure under Maintenance & Repair during the year 2016-17 and 2017-18 for Kotri Barrage Head Works are as under:

3155.   *Syed Abdul Rasheed:            Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)  Is it a fact that sub-standards material have been used in strengthing work of dykes of Hingorja Canal;

(b)  If answer to (a) above is affirmative, action taken against involved persons?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

No any strengthening work of dykes of Hingorja Minor has been carried out during last 5 years. Further, Hingorja Canal is a minor of less than 50 cusecs discharge.

3375.   *Ms. Rana Ansar:      Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)   Is it a fact that due to non-availability of water, sand is flying in Johi Branch, Rice canal, Daim branches including various canals in district Dadu and there is threat that above 3 lac acres land will become barren;

(b)   If answer to (a) above is affirmative, step taken by the government in this regard?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Irrigation water is being supplied in Johi Branch, Daim Branch and it’s off taking channels in District Dadu.  Almost lands are cultivated in the command area of said channels. It is also a fact that there remains some shortage / /fluctuation of water supply. However, with the efforts of officials and concerned field staff, the lands of the above channels always get arable.

3462.   *Mr. Rabistan Khan: Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

(a)      Is it a fact that amount sanctioned for repair & maintenance of Kotri barrage during 2017-18;

(b)      If answer to (a) above be in affirmative, the details thereof including amount actually spent and works carried-out?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

Yes, it is a fact that amount released by Government of Sindh for Repair & Maintenance of Kotri Barrage Head works during the year 2017-18 was Rs.48,254,238/- and the same were incurred against the different works of repair and maintenance of Kotri Barrage Head woks.

Details of work carried out and expenditure incurred their upon is at Annexure placed on the Table of the House.

4500.   *Ms. Sarwat Fatima:  Will the Minister for Irrigation be pleased to state:-

            The location storage capacity and other details of the dams for irrigation purpose available in Sindh?

ANSWER

MR. SOHAIL ANWAR SIYAL, MINISTER FOR IRRIGATION:

The Small Dams Organization Sindh, Hyderabad has undertaken multifarious prominent initiatives for the Construction of Dams/Weirs within the periphery of Arid Zone of Sindh Province, and completed 76 Nos. Small Dams/weirs under various ADP and PSDP schemes to recharge aquifer by maintaining sub-soil water level and provide potable as well as agriculture water to indigenous indigent people in addition.

The details are as under: 

KARACHI:                                                                    G.M. UMAR FAROOQ

DATED THE 25^TH MARCH, 2021                                          SECRETARY

                                                                                    PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH