The Chief Advisor JICA,
Susumu Uciumi and the Coordinator Reforms on SIAP Project, Muneeb Zafar held a
visit at Bahawalnagar Area Water Board to observe the performance of FO
Sirajwah and the usage of training material by FO’s General Body and Management
Committee.
At first, the JICA expert briefly explained the purpose of visit under SIAP
project. The FO Coordinator while briefing the JICA team about the outlines of
the FO told that it was one of the oldest FOs in Bahawalnagar Canal Circle and
working since 2000. One of the Executive members (Middle) was working with the
FO since day one. The FO President explained that the FO conducts its General Body
meeting twice in a year and the minutes of the meeting are recorded. Likewise,
the FO conducts its Management Committee meeting with in 40 days. The minutes of
these meetings are also regularly recorded. The FO has also established all the
standing committees, and their members are aware about their position in the
standing committees. It was told during the meeting that the FO Coordinator was
visiting the FO twice a month and attending every MC meeting of the FO and
always ready to assist the FO in its affairs.
In response to a question, the
FO President replied that the expenditures were with in budget and the FO got
no loan from PIDA in order to run the system. The current income of the FO is
Rs. 59,000,000, while half of the money was deposited to PIDA as per rule. All
of the expenditures record regarding administration and operation was well
maintained by the FO Assistant.
While discussing the operation works, it was brought into knowledge that the
FO President and the Executive members often check the distributary. The
de-silting of distributary was done in patches. Usually during the month of
December, before annual closure, the Management Committee conducts a survey on entire
distributary including the minors with Technical Manager and marks the areas
which require the immediate need of de silting. It was mentioned that complete
de silting has not been done by the FO since 2000 due to shortage of funds.
The FO President pointed out that the minors associated with the main
distributary were already lined but the main distributary had not been lined
yet. The FO members has held meeting with Head PMO (PISIP) and explained him
the situation. Head PMO (PISIP) agreed to line the distributary after the
completion of ongoing work. The Executive member (Middle) explained that there
was a need to line the distributary on immediate basis in order to minimize the
maintenance cost as well as the water theft cases.
In 2008, when the FO got resolved after the completion of three years tenure,
it was working in A Category. After the administrative period, when the FO
again took charge in 2011, the FO was placed in B Category. The Executive
member (Middle) criticised that FO Jalwala is working in A Category while rest
of the FOs are working in B Category. Executive member further said that a set
criterion should be followed for all of the FOs.
The JICA team
appreciated the performance of the FO Sirajwah and promised to deliver the
reservations of the FO to the higher authorities. The Chief Advisor JICA also
urged the participants to motivate the farming community to involve in the
management and maintenance work of the distributary.