SUKKUR: Employees of irrigation department, Sukkur, launched a movement with the slogan of ‘Eliminate corruption and save irrigation’ on Wednesday purportedly to ‘cleanse the department of the menace that had hollowed out one of the oldest institutions of the province’.

The movement’s chairman Gul Mohammad Mirani told a press conference that they had planned to organise an ‘anti-corruption seminar’ at Sukkur Barrage on Oct 27 but the corrupt officials were trying to prevent them from holding the event that would expose their corruption.

He said the program banners were removed from the barrage premises and the chief engineer was threatening them with registration of cases if they went ahead with the seminar. “Come what may, we’ll hold the seminar against corruption,” he warned.

He alleged that substandard material was being used in the repairs of Nusrat Canal that cost Rs2.45 billion. Massive corruption had been made in the lining work of Nusrat Canal and all the officials were involved in the menace, he said.

He accused the chief engineer, who was wanted by National Accountability Bureau in several cases, was also involved in corruption. Rs160 million were allocated every year for repairs and maintenance of canals and water channels but the huge amount was entirely embezzled, he claimed.

He alleged that all officials of the irrigation department had a share in the embezzlement of the annual budget of maintenance and repairs. “We have taken the field to cleanse the department of the evil,” he said.

He appealed to Sindh chief minister and other authorities concerned to take notice of large-scale corruption in the department and order an inquiry against the chief engineer.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2023