MUZAFFARGARH: The Irrigation Department has closed four canals due to medium flood in the river Indus while the water level in the river is rising at Abbaswala spur in Kot Addu.

Irrigation Executive Engineer (EXEN) Head Taunsa Barrage Mehr Riaz Akhtar said he informed his high-ups that canals originating from the Taunsa Barrage — TP Link Canal, Muzaffargarh Canal, Kachhi Canal and Dera Ghazi Khan Canal — had been closed because of floods in the Indus.

He said that water level was above 475,000 cusecs, which was the sign of danger.

The EXEN said floods relief camps had been established by the district administration and the people living in the dangerous areas had been evacuated by the irrigation department and the administration. At Abbaswala spur, officials have been deployed to help the people.

In 2010, when Abbaswala spur was breached, most of the Muzaffargarh district was flooded and 560 mauza were badly damaged.

Deputy Commissioner Amjad Shoaib Tareen said the Chenab flooding had affected 15,000 acres while after flood receded, the department would assess the losses.

The EXEN said when the flood level fell from high to medium, it could trigger erosion. Also, 70 private schools buildings had been sealed by the district administration because they had no building structure.

The education department issued letters to private schools owners to submit documents of school buildings and map but 70 school owners failed to submit their documents.

District Education Authority CEO Syed Kausar Abbas said some schools had not been able to present registration or other documents .

On Saturday, Provincial Minister for Irrigation Mohsin Leghari also visited the Head Taunsa Barrage and the Abbaswala spur. He directed the officials to keep on monitoring the flood situation. An official said that canals had been closed due to silt factor.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2020