20000227

Disputes settlement Centre asks Sindh govt, Wapda to avoid litigation

ANWAR RAJANI

KARACHI: The federal government has advised the Sindh government and the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to hold negotiations and avoid litigation to settle their outstanding disputes.

The federal finance minister has, therefore, convened a high-level meeting in Islamabad on February 29 (Tuesday) that will be attended by the Sindh chief secretary, irrigation and power secretary of Sindh, the Chairman of Wapda and the secretary, Federal Ministry of Water and Power.

The federal government is also reported to have taken notice of arbitration tribunal's award which has not been accepted the demand of Wapda claiming Rs 10 billion from the Sindh government.

The Sindh government says that the claim of Wapda for payment of Rs 10 billion according to its bills issued to the Sindh government is not correct as declared by the Arbitration Tribunal. On the contrary, the Sindh government says Wapda has to pay Rs 2.7 billion to Sindh government.

According to official sources, the Sindh government is making payments regularly against the bills being issued by Wapda since July 1999. The Sindh government also claimed that 80 percent meters installed by the Wapda are faulty.

The federal government wants that these issues and other matters outstanding between the two parties should be settled through negotiation and no party should go to the court of law.