SUKKUR: Sindh Minister for Irrigation Syed Nasir Hussain Shah was on Tuesday informed that the Guddu Barrage Improvement Project, being executed at cost of Rs9.585 billion, would take a few more years to complete whereas six new gates of the Ghotki feeder had been installed.

The minister was receiving a briefing on the project from its manager Shaikh Nusrat Hussain and Mr Chris Hall, an engineer of the consultant company associated with the project, during his visit to the barrage on Tuesday.

Mr Shah noted that the work for the rehabilitation of Guddu Barrage gates and removal of silt was being carried out in a phased manner.

Mr Shah was also informed that the hasten system and other works relating to the Gho­tki feeder would be completed by May 20.

While inspecting the barrage and feeder, the minister told the engineers and other officials that the Sindh government was striving hard to ensure that water in adequate quantity reached the tail-end areas. He expressed his concern over widespread complaints of water theft, and declared in unequivocal terms that such practices were absolutely unacceptable to the government.

Govt taking steps to ensure adequate water flows in the entire network, says Nasir Shah

“An operation would be launched by police with the assistance of Rangers personnel to curb water theft,” he said, adding that action would be taken against the culprits, howsoever influential they may be.

The barrage’s chief engineer, Ishaq Abbasi, brought into the minister’s notice that two superintending engineers and several engineers were yet to be appointed on the posts since they had fallen vacant. Mr Shah said not only the vacancies would be filled but other related problems would also be solved soon.

CM’s special assistant on improvement of irrigation system Ashfaq Memon was also accompanying the minister during the visit.

The irrigation minister issued necessary directives to the officials concerned of his department, as well as those of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida), to prepare such schemes that could bring about a speedy improvement in the irrigation system and strengthen the installations.

He stressed the need for ensuring conservation of river water, proper lining of canals and minors taking other measures for the purpose.

At the same time, he added, all officials concerned must pay due attention to flood-combat measures and remain fully prepared for such a situation as water level in the Indus was likely to rise in the days to come. He said vigilance on the Qadirpur Shank Bund and other sensitive places be increased to ward off losses in such a situation. He noted that the work on the strengthening of Shank Bund was stopped, and directed to resume it immediately.

Earlier, the irrigation minister inspected regulators at Sonan, Dilwaro, Bolri Lower, Dahar and other distributaries of Ghotki feeder canal.

He interacted with the local growers, peasants and farmers and heard their grievances. Afterwards, he told reporters that his visit was aimed at making sure that adequate water reached throughout the irrigation network in Sindh, including the tail-end areas.

He said the Sindh government was taking all possible measures in this regard on the directives of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. “I am visiting each and every water channel across Sindh to see how and where flows were being diverted or blocked illegally and how could the remedial measures be implemented to check such practices.”

The minister warned that no one found involved in water theft be spared, be it a farm worker, agriculturist, influential figure or official of the irrigation or any other department.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2019