HYDERABAD: All the irrigation department officers have been directed to share the schedule of annual closure of canals with the deputy commissioners (DCs) concerned so that the town administrations could store drinking water in reservoirs for general public.

Presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday at his office held to review arrangements for water supply during the closure of canals, Hyderabad Commissioner Syed Khalid Hyder Shah said the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) should meet requirements of water during that period.

Wasa should ensure water storage to deal with shortage of water during the closure taking place for repair and desilting work, he said.

Those who attended the meeting included Hyderabad DC Tariq Qureshi, Matiari DC Lal Dino Mangi, Kotri Barrage Chief Engineer Haji Khan Jamali, and engineers of Wasa, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority and irrigation department besides other concerned officers. The DCs of the division participated in the meeting through video link.

The commissioner said the desilting of canals and regulators was necessary to strengthen the irrigation system, not only to ensure supply of water to the tail-end areas but also deal with the flood situation.

Haji Khan Jamali said the irrigation department was working for improvement of the irrigation system so that farmers could be benefited for cultivation and shortage of drinking water could be overcome.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023