HYDERABAD: An American irrigation expert visited Kotri and Sukkur barrages on Tuesday and Wednesday to check how irrigation officials were applying modern formula- based flow measurement, which was part of proposed modernisation of barrages being carried out under World Bank-funded Sindh Barrages Improvement Programme (SBIP).

Dr Kyle Fiest from Irrigation Training Research Centre (ITRC) California, United States, met chief engineer of Kotri barrage, Haji Khan Jamali along with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) consultant Ahmed Junaid Memon, Umer Karim and others.

The US expert’s visit is in continuation of a five-day training of irrigation officers by Dr Charles Burt of California Policy Research Institute in Hyderabad and his visits to Kotri and Sukkur barrages in February this year.

Dr Charles had given lectures on flow measurement and discharge calibration at barrages and off-taking canals. He had talked about modern practice of flow measurement instead of gauge based one.

According to Haji Khan Jamali, Dr Kyle’s was a follow-up visit of Prof Charles to see how irrigation officers and officials were applying the formula-based measurement explained by Prof Charles. He visited the barrage and hydrology institute as well, he said.

Jamali said that discussion generally revolved around modern irrigation practices. He checked the structure in hydrology institute and did not give any suggestion but did gather information about how flow measurement was done at barrages, he said.

Mr Kyle also spent time at Sukkur barrage on Wednesday. He met barrage executive engineer Zafar Abro and discussed flow measurement.

An official said that the expert wanted to know whether the practice of flow measurement as suggested by Prof Charles was now being adopted.

He suggested that pond level at the barrage should be maintained which was called upstream control and then flows were released to canal after proper calibration.

The US expert would go to Guddu barrage on Thursday where he would check flow measurement by irrigation officials in the light of training conducted by Prof Charles.

Superintending Engineer Baghar circle, Sohail Baloch, gave a presentation on operation of Kotri barrage and its four off-taking canals.

Director Hydrology Habib Ursani, Sajid Bhutto and others were also present.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2022