HYDERABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Wednesday was informed by Wapda senior officials that the feasibility study on Sindh Barrage Project would be completed by September.

Attending a briefing in Islamabad, the minister directed Wapda officials to expedite work on feasibility study to ensure early start of physical work. He asked officials to ensure that project benefits for local communities in the area should be clearly highlighted which would assist and guide government in making appropriate investments.

It was decided that a meeting would be convened for a detailed review as soon as the feasibility is completed.

Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fahmida Mirza, representatives from Wapda and senior officers attended the meeting.

The Sindh government has already conveyed its reservations over inception report of the project which the federal government wants to execute in Sindh downstream Kotri barrage to check sea intrusion and protect Indus delta’s ecology. After these reservations, Wapda Hydro Wing responded to the Sindh government through another report.

Mr Asad at a press briefing on Feb 27 in Hyderabad had told journalists that if the people of Sindh don’t agree over such a barrage project why would the federal government spend such a huge amount of money on it. He commented when his attention was drawn that the Sindh irrigation department has shown reservations over Sindh Barrage.

Dr Fahmida Mirza — who hails from Sindh’s coastal district of Badin and her district faces unending sea intrusion — told Dawn over the phone that in fact Mr Asad was briefed about a feasibility study.

Under the barrage project, the goal is to build a huge structure 45km from the sea in the south of Thatta and east of Karachi to address environmental issues of sea intrusion and land degradation.

Sindh has reservations over Wapda’s inception report about Sindh Barrage being planned 180km downstream Kotri barrage to check sea intrusion, improve environment, store around 2.5MAF on around 160km long reservoir. Sindh has objections over barrage’s reservoir, canals’ components besides others technical reasons.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2021