A colossal threat to humans, vegetation

THE crumbling 118-year old Head Khanki Bridge poses a serious threat to a population of almost 100,000 people and three million acres in more than 30 villages in the Head Khanki division. It is feared that the bridge can collapse any time due to its rundown condition.

Constructed in 1889 over the river Chenab in Khanki area in the British era, the Khanki Headworks Barrage is today fertilising three million acres through the Lower Chenab Canal and 59 small canals. The division has been the nerve-centre of high floods for the last 100 years.

Sixteen exceptionally high floods (having water discharge of more than 0.6 million cusecs) and very high floods (water discharge of more than 0.4 million cusecs) had been experienced here in the last century. On 11 occasions the level of floods remained 735 feet above the sea level at the barrage and wiped out many villages.

The irrigation authorities have banned heavy traffic on the bridge on which cracks are visible, showing a picture of apathy.

Two irrigation department employees told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that they had been managing the work at the barrage with a great deal of difficulty because it was in a rundown condition.

They said no exceptionally high flood had been witnessed here since 1997, but any such instance could damage the bridge endangering the existence of 45 villages. In case of an exceptionally high flood, they said, they would have no other option but to open the gates of the barrage that, too, could wipe out many villages. The otherwise closed gates of the barrage might mean havoc.

The officials said the barrage was controlling the flow of the river Chenab and 59 canals and its collapse could mean a heavy loss to the cattle, crops and fertilised land.

Muhammad Liaquat of Burj Cheema village told Dawn that the government raised funds for many bridges, but had never paid heed to the Head Khanki Bridge that fed poor communities.

XEN Muhammad Waseem Butt, however, claimed that the bridge — the oldest in the country — had been repaired time and again and the department was alive to the current situation. It had sent a feasibility report on the basis of which the government could take decision of repairs or construction of a new bridge, he said.

“Though the bridge is quite safe, the department as a precautionary measure has proposed to the government to check it to ensure safety of the people living around the Chenab,” he said.