LARKANA: A Unesco expert, Thierry Joffroy, is on a visit to Mohenjo Daro for a survey to assess the extent of damage caused to the ancient ruins by recent unprecedented rains and floods in Sindh.

Sources privy to the visit told Dawn on Monday that Mr Joffroy, an architect and researcher, arrived at the world heritage site on Sunday and visited the ‘SD’ and ‘L’ areas along with a team of local conservationists and officials of the culture department.

He also discussed with archaeology director Shakir Shah, engineer conservation Ali Haider Gadhi and others the issues that had surfaced at the world heritage site owing to the massive rainfall and flooding.

On Monday, Mr Joffroy inspected the DK area of the ancient site.

The expert has been assigned the job after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres visited Mohenjo Daro on Sept 8, besides many flood-hit cities, towns and archaeological sites in the country.

An amount of $150,000 allocated for corrective measures, say sources

Sources at the site said that Mr Joffroy was likely to visit historical sites in Makli and Thatta as well after leaving Mohenjo Daro on Thursday (Oct 27) for a similar survey.

According to the sources, an amount of $150,000 had been allocated for the survey and corrective measures to protect Mohenjo Daro from further damage.

During inspection of the DK area, the Unesco expert discussed with officials of the culture department and archaeology creating a drainage outlet, as no such thing existed there.

A plan to design a drainage system after extensive mapping of the area was also discussed. It was proposed that pipes should be laid to channelise rainwater so that it could be diverted to an outer area from the site.

The Unesco expert considered a plan under which rainwater could either be released into Dadu Canal (as had been in practise in the past) or into River Indus through heavy pumps, the sources said.

Atlaf Assem, a member of the technical consultative committee, and Shabir Ahmed Joyo also accompanied the Unesco expert during his visit.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2022