The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved a Rs23.8 billion project for the installation of a telemetry system at 27 key sites along the Indus River.
This initiative aims to monitor water discharge accurately in real time. However, the CDWP did not approve two other projects exceeding Rs63 billion due to various concerns, including technical, financial, and legal issues.
Chaired by Dr. Jehanzeb Khan, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, the CDWP meeting evaluated projects across the energy, transport, communication, and water resource sectors.
It directed relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Communications, National Highway Authority (NHA), and the Gilgit-Baltistan government, to resolve objections on certain projects before resubmission.
The telemetry project, presented by the Ministry of Water Resources, is set to be funded through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), with an additional Rs500 million from the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) for operational costs.
This decision comes after a similar but unsuccessful attempt by the Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda) during the Musharraf era, which was eventually abandoned due to technical failures.
Despite previous deferrals and concerns over cost escalations and stakeholder engagement, the CDWP has now endorsed the project.
This system is expected to enhance water management through online, accurate data on water availability, fostering transparency and equitable distribution by government policies.
