MUZAFFARGARH: The wrong rehabilitation project carried out from 2006 to 2009 has put the Taunsa Barrage in a critical situation just after five years of its operation.

The whole loose stone apron, concrete block floor and inverted filters have been washed away and the barrage may sink any time without alarm. An amount of Rs11billion for the rehabilitation project was borrowed from World Bank in 2004.

Dr Zulfiqar Ali, a professor of hydraulics and irrigation engineering at University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, told Dawn that a wall/sub-weir was constructed at 925ft from the barrage gates. Some major changes were also made in the stilling basin of the barrage.

This barrage was hydraulically well-designed and such changes and sub-weir did not have any justification, rather they were responsible for the possible destruction of the barrage, he said, warning that the barrage might sink any time without alarm.

This rehabilitated barrage in 2010 failed to pass 1.1 million cusec water. Its left marginal dyke failed, causing flood in Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh districts.

Dr Ali further said that if failures were due to the malfunctioning of the gates, the XEN, SDO and sub-engineer were responsible.

If causes of failures were the faulty rehabilitation carried out in 2006-2009, such failures might occur again, even after restoration of currently damaged areas, he warned.

Dr Zulfiqar Ali further said the best course was to restore the barrage to its original design as the changes made in the name of its rehabilitation were wrong.

He suggested an open engineering debate was a way to resolve the issue, adding that the irrigation department should immediately break down the wall and the chief minister Punjab should hold an inquiry against irresponsible officials

Dr Ali further said he had also worked as the hydraulic specialist for the Jinnah barrage rehabilitation project where he opposed the construction of its sub-weir downstream as it would reduce the discharge capacity of the barrage, causing serious hydraulic problems.

However, construction of sub-weir downstream of the Jinnah Barrage was under way despite his efforts.

When Dawn contacted Taunsa Barrage Executive Engineer Mehr Riaz, he admitted that loose stone apron and concrete block floor and inverted filters had been washed away but the filters would be replaced or fixed very soon.

He defended the construction of the wall/sub-weir and said that the wall had protected the barrage during 2010 flood, otherwise barrage would have been washed away. About sinking of stones at base, he said his technical teams would check the barrage very soon.

According to a report of the Taunsa Barrage Rehabilitation Project by irrigation engineers, the barrage, soon after its construction in 1958, developed multiple problems and some routine and extensive repairs were executed during 1959-62 but problems were not solved.

The Punjab government constituted committee of experts in 1966 and 1973 but no specific measures except construction of some river training works were taken to address the problems that continued to aggravate.

Finally, a feasibility study for rehabilitation of the barrage was prepared and World Bank financed the Taunsa Barrage Rehabilitation Project in April 2004.