LARKANA: A constant rise in water level in Indus River over the last few days has caused damage to a portion of the T-spur, built to deflect currents, at the Moria-Aghani loop bund located some 21 kilometres from here.

The situation, though not critical at the moment, has panicked local people, including landowners and farmers, who fear flooding in a vast area as Indus braces for peak flood from Punjab in the coming days. Some stakeholders of the irrigation system have also expressed their concern over vulnerability of several bunds which, they believed, are not strong enough to withstand the expected deluges during the current monsoon.

Upon receiving information about the damage to the T-spur on Sunday, Larkana District Council chairman Aijaz Ahmed Leghari, vice chairman Asadullah Bhutto and irrigation SDO Nadeem Jafferi rushed to the site to assess extent of the erosion.

Speaking to Dawn, Mr Leghari confirmed that a 15 to 30 feet portion of the T-spur had been washed away by strong currents. According to the sub-engineer concerned, the flow at this point was recorded at 360,000 cusecs on Sunday.

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Mr Leghari believed it was not a dangerous situation, and said sufficient stock of stones was available on the dyke and machinery had been moved to the site. River’s behavior was being closely monitored, he added.

“We are in touch with the party [PPP] leadership and have sought their nod for the provision of more stocks of stones to meet any eventuality,” he said.

Under a 2018 plan, three spurs — two T-shaped and one J-shaped — were to be constructed to divert the flow from the bund but only two of them could be completed, according to sources in the irrigation department. This was, however, contested by the sub-engineer of the Moria loop bund while speaking to Dawn from the site over phone. “All spurs were constructed as per the plan,” he insisted, and said that a 500-foot apron of 80 feet length was there to keep the situation stable. Another scheme of one-RD length was also approved and work on it would be started shortly, he added.

Asadullah Bhutto, who resides near the dyke, said although the bund’s condition was not critical, the T-spur’s strength was not up to the mark and, therefore, it suffered damage.

Residents of many villages including Moria Faqeer, Bachal Bhutto, Wahid Bakhsh Aghani, Khuda Bakhsh Sethar, Tagar and Mitho Khuhro, have expressed their concern over the strength of the spurs while talking to local reporters. They said the dyke was weak and the water was directly hitting the spurs.

Larkana Chamber of Agri­culture president Siraj-ul-Oliya Rashdi has also claimed that the work for the strengthening of the dyke was not carried out as per the prescribed standards. He also claimed that the Nusrat and Ruk loop bunds were also weak and the situation at Tajodero and Zero Point warranted urgent measures as well.

On Saturday last, Larkana Commissioner Ghanwar Leg­hari visited the Akil-Aghani loop bund where the irrigation officials concerned apprised him of the situation.

According to Mr Rashdi, the commissioner had rushed to the site when he [Mr Rashdi] informed him about the poor condition of the loop bunds.

“The required machinery was moved to the specified sites and irrigation staff was deployed to maintain a round-the-clock vigilance,” said Mr Rashdi.

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2023