THATTA, July 14: Kotri Barrage chief engineer Manzoor Ahmad Shaikh has said embankments of the Indus River in the district are under strict vigilance. He was talking to journalists at the irrigation office here on Thursday. He said six of 31 vulnerable points were very sensitive. He said work to strengthen the vulnerable points was in progress.

Mr Shaikh said telephones and a wireless system had been installed at the vulnerable points and there was a constant contact with officials posted at the site.

He said an army commander of Badin had also visited the embankments and expressed satisfaction over the work. He added that the army was on alert and could be called in case of any emergency. He said he himself would also visit the embankments.

He said a central control room had been established at the Kotri Barrage which was manned by an assistant engineer, three supervisors and three telephone operators.

He said the control room, which was working round-the-clock, was also in contact with such centres all over the country through the wireless system. He said the control room recorded gauges at all points of water reservoirs and head-works.

He was confident that the major water stream of about 225,000 cusecs of water would pass through Kotri by July 20 and 21 and flow into the sea without causing any damage to the embankments.

Mr Shaikh said the revamping work of the irrigation system would be completed in next two years for which the government had allocated Rs12 billion.

He said a major project was of remodelling the Keenjhar Lake, including raising the height of lake embankments, and the canal system. He said after remodelling, the level of Keenjhar would increase from 54 feet to 60 feet and there would be enough water not only for agriculture but also for supply to Karachi for drinking purpose.

He said that in the Thatta irrigation division, 17 out of 24 channels and in Mirpur Sakro, 50 out of 79 channels had been desilted. He added that the remaining work would be completed after current the Kharif season.

He said he had formed mobile mechanical teams equipped with necessary instruments to repair regulators and gates of canals.

He said a departmental training centre would be established by the year end which would impart training to officials about the use of modern and latest technology in the irrigation system.