KARACHI: Telemetry system soon to monitor water flow
KARACHI, April 11: The Telemetry System will replace the manual system at the barrages and off-taking canals along river Indus and other rivers in Indus Basin over which the provinces had serious observations with regard to reported water discharges.
This system is being introduced by Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and installed by WAPDA in pursuance of a federal cabinet decision.
Posting of executive engineers from irrigation and power departments of Sindh, Punjab and WAPDA at Chashma and Taunsa Barrages and at Lahore has been worked out to monitor flows at three barrages and off-taking canals.
The introduction of telemetry system is aimed at enhancing harmony among the provinces as there would be negligible doubts about the correctness of the reported discharges at barrages and in the canals.
It may be recalled that teams will prepare daily water situation report for issuance to press and concerned agencies, besides, relocation/installation of two existing telemetry stations of the flood telemetry network at Chashma and Taunsa barrages to monitor flows in off-taking canals.
In this regard, WAPDA team had been mobilized for relocation/installation of telemetry stations at Chashma and Taunsa. Installation at Chashma Barrage has been completed and signals are being received, and work for installation at Taunsa Barrage is in progress. The total installation will be completed ahead of the target completion date of April 15.
Furthermore, WAPDA is giving priority to the project proposal of IRSA for installation of Telemetry System for Indus Basin Irrigation System.
In this connection, PC-I of the project was submitted to the Planning Commission with a request to convene a special ECNEC meeting for approval of PC-I (for Rs450.00 million). The Ministry of Water and Power has also been requested for anticipatory approval of Rs5.00 million for implementation of the project. In the meantime, WAPDA has allocated Rs5.00 million as bridge financing for the said project.—PPI
