SUKKUR: The World Bank Implementation Support Mission inspected Guddu Barrage on Friday and operated its new gates installed under the bank’s Sindh Barrages Improvement Project. The barrage would get a new lease of life after completion of the rehabilitation works, according to officials.

The mission led by Josses Mugabi, practice manager global water practice of World Bank, task leader Francisco Onimus and co-task team leader Ms Thiruni Liyanage, water resources management specialist, inspected hoisting system of the new gates and associated works such as mechanical workshop, replacement of gates, slipway jetty area and gentry crane.

The mission accompanied by SBIP deputy project director Abdul Razzak Memon, technical officer Imran Aziz Tunio, deputy director Abdul Fatah Memon, assistant engineer mechanical Mumtaz Hussain Ghumro and assistant engineer civil Faisal Iqbal Shaikh, held meetings with officials of Kandhkot-Kashmore administration including Deputy Commissioner Ameer Fazal Ghumro and SSP Mir Rohail Khan Khoso to review security arrangements for the project area.

SSP Khoso advised the SBIP officers to install CCTV cameras in the offices and use bullet-proof vehicles. The project officials should ensure that Chinese experts working at the barrage followed SOPs which were already communicated to them as per government policy, he said.

Police ask project officers to use bullet-proof vehicles

DC Ghumro suggested the environmental and social management plan should be followed in letter and spirit as per World Bank guidelines.

SBIP deputy project director Abdul Razzak Memon asked for increasing number of security staff in the project area and the Kashmore-Kandhkoat district administration agreed to deploy more personnel of law-enforcement forces for the security of Chinese and international consultants.

The mission was also briefed by John Prytherch, team leader of UK-based consultants, who said that efforts continued to complete ongoing rehabilitation work at the barrage according to timeline.

He said that fabrication and manufacturing process for the remaining 55 gates and hoisting system of the barrage had been started in China and hopefully 10 gates would arrive at the site in February 2024.

SBIP technical officer Imran Aziz Tunio said that the barrage would obtain a new lease of life after rehabilitation works and millions of acres in the command area would have a reliable supply of water.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2023