Upgrading canals

Published January 23, 2017

A NUMBER of development projects with a focus on the Nara Canal of Sukkur barrage are being carried out by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority to improve water supply to farmlands though with some hiccups for the growers.

Four of the 14 main canals emanating from three provincial barrages have been handed over to the authority (SIDA) and the rest are managed by the Sindh irrigation department. The major works in Nara Canal include: construction of fall structure on upper Nara at RD550; rehabilitation of Ranto Canal; reconstruction of Old Jamrao Canal head regulator; reconstruction of lower Nara Canal head regulator; rehabilitation of Makhi Complex and remodelling of Khipro Canal etc.

On-going works in the left bank canals are being executed at a cost of Rs2,859m; Rs2,989m will be spent on the Ghotki Feeder and Rs3578m on the Mithrao Canal. Cost of development works in the lower Nara and Makhi Complex are estimated at Rs7,474m and Rs2,479m respectively.

The upgradation projects include: Ghotki Feeder of Guddu Barrage, Phulelli and Akram of Kotri Barrage and Mithrao of Nara Canal System. According to a SIDA spokesman, 30pc progress has been achieved in the left bank canals and Ghotki Feeder canal while work is a bit slow in Mithrao canal. Nara canal feeds farms right upto Sanghar and Mirpurkhas districts.


Mahmood Nawaz Shah feels that an independent assessment of all these works is necessary to know how effectively the system has really been improved and whether the water supplies have indeed been ensured


Sindh Abadgar Board President Abdul Majeed Nizamani says that projects completed by the SIDA have improved water availability to tail enders.

But some farmers complain water shortages still persist.

They say some engineering works are adversely affecting water supply to farms.

Murad Nizamani — a grower from Sanghar — points out that Nara canal is taking lesser water flows at some points, as it accumulates silt.

The SIDA has set up farmers’ participatory organisations (FOs) to manage of the canal systems. But farmers’ representative Mahmood Nawaz Shah claims that usually selection is preferred over election in the farmers’ body.

Water theft, admitted a SIDA officer, has not come to an end in SIDA controlled areas.

He, however, mentioned that in case of Khipro Canal, protests against water shortage have now died down. He also said issues in maintenance of these works are still a gray area.

A farmer-cum-member of the Left Bank Canals Area Water Board said unsettled administrative issues between irrigation department and the SIDA tended to fail the authority-run system.

Mahmood Nawaz Shah feels that an independent assessment of all these works is necessary to know how effectively the system has really been improved and whether the water supplies have indeed been ensured.

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, January 23rd, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.