HYDERABAD: Sukkur Barrage Chief Engineer Mansoor Memon has disputed certain contents of the minutes of July 8 meeting held at the barrage.

Mr Memon, who has been posted at the barrage in a recent reshuffle prompted by the June 20 damage to seven gates of the barrage, categorically stated that at the meeting, he did not make any commitment regarding fixing of wooden planks at the barrage’s gates in order to ensure supplies into Khirthar Canal.

The CE is said to have responded to the July 11 letter of Indus River System Authority’s director (operations) to dismiss observations attributed to him in the para-6 of the minutes. The minutes were communicated to Khalid Hussain Magsi, Chairman of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources, on whose directives the

July 8 meeting was held to seek Balochistan’s share. The meeting was chaired by Irsa Chairman Abdul Hameed Mengal, who is from Balochistan. Besides others, the meeting was attended by Irsa’s Punjab member, chief engineers of Balochistan and Mir Salar Jamali, nazim of Usta Mohammad district.

Denies having committed fixing of wooden planks

Pieces of wooden planks fixed on gates are being used by Sindh irrigation authorities to achieve required pond level at barrage in order to feed right and left bank canals (seven, in all) of the barrage.

Use of planks is recommended by irrigation officers and the practice has been continuing for long to address silting problem in the right side canals.

Irsa director had mentioned in the minutes that Sindh irrigation secretary had directed the CE Sukkur barrage to install wooden planks at tail channel gates to achieve required water level to feed right side canals.

Referring to it, CE Memon made it clear that planks could only be installed keeping in view “physical strength of gates”. Mechanical expertise team/consultants were on board in rehabilitation work of Sukkur barrage through SBIP. “As soon as aforesaid conclusion of [mechanical] experts is received by this office, further action will be taken accordingly for raising pond level as per safe and possible maximum level,” stated CE’s letter.

Insofar as ongoing works are concerned, the CE told Irsa that gate No. 47 installation work would be completed by July 20. After its completion, authorities would move to gate No. 44 for replacement whose fabrication has already started in Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW). “It will take some more time and thereafter authorities will be in a position to raise water upto maximum possible safe level,” said CE.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2024