SUKKUR, Sept 23: Sindh Irrigation Minister Nadir Akmal Leghari has said that cases of three engineers of the irrigation department have been sent to the National Accountability Bureau for inquiry against them.

The minister declined to disclose their names.

Talking to newsmen during his visit to the Sukkur barrage on Thursday, he said the Sindh irrigation department had entered into agreement with the Transparency International to stop corruption in the department.

Mr Leghari said corruption had been reduced through the TI’s proposals but not ended as yet.

He said a plan was under active consideration to induct army personnel in the department to bring an end to corruption.

He said the World Bank had talked about constructing dams in Pakistan and not about the construction of Kalabagh dam.

He said the bank was responsible for funding and it could not advice about constructing any dam.

He said the Sindh government had not been apprised about technical and political reports on the Kalabagh dam.

Mr Leghari was confident that the reports would be in the interest of Sindh.

He said the decision of the federal government about the dams would also be in the interest of Sindh.

Ruling out the shortage of water in Sindh, Nadir Akmal said it was due to mismanagement and corruption.

He said if corruption was ended and distribution system was corrected then every farmers would get its water share.

He said the irrigation department had sustained losses of billions of rupees due to contractors.

He said strict action had been suggested for people involved in the water theft.

He said a plan was under consideration regarding change in design and to increase capacity of canals to overcome water shortage.

Earlier, Mr Leghari and Sindh Irrigation Secretary Shujja Ahmed Junejo inspected the Sukkur barrage and witnessed the scouring operation of the barrage.

The secretary said the operation was started on September 19 from the left pocket with the Khairpur Feeder East and West closed.

The scouring operation of right pocket was started on September 21 which would come to an end between September 22 and 23.