JICA visit at Bahawalnagar

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.