HYDERABAD: Lining of 38-mile-long Kalri Baghar (KB) feeder has started a couple of days ago under the federally-funded The Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme commonly known as K-IV.

For the purpose of the lining, the canal that supplies water to Karachi was closed even before 15 days of the annual closure of Kotri Barrage that usually begins on Dec 25.

The lining project, supposed to be carried out in a three-year time, was divided into three reaches. Each year 20 reduced distances (RDs) were to be lined. The KB has a total of 189 plus RDs. The canal that takes off from Kotri Barrage ends in Thatta to feed Keenjhar Lake, the potential principal source of water for Karachi.

The project was conceived by the Sindh irrigation department in order to conserve water in KB Feeder so that it could be provided for K-IV. Conservation of water was likely through this project and out of which around 500 cusecs of water would be provided to K-IV for meeting drinking water needs of the provincial capital.

After completion, flow of 9,800-10,000 cusecs will be ensured: project director

“Currently, KB Feeder is not carrying flows as per its designed discharge of 9,100 cusecs. It usually carries 7,600 cusecs of water,” said Kotri Barrage Chief Engineer (CE) Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, who is the project director of the project. After lining of the canal, he claimed, a flow of 9,800-10,000 cusecs would be ensured. He informed that supplies of water flows into the canal would be resumed on or around Jan 13 or 14, 2025 while the barrage closure would end after 15 days.

Out of the total Rs39 billion cost of the project, the federal and Sindh governments would share 50-50pc cost, according to CE Talpur. “Bed and banks of the canals will be lined,” he said. He informed that 20 RDs would be completed in three packages of the project which meant that RD-0 to RD-65 would be completed this year. About the closure of the canal, he said that stakeholders had been taken on board when it was closed because water shortage would be reported.

Outgoing Kotri Barrage CE Haji Khan Jamali had claimed that KB Feeder ensured 1,200 cusecs of water to the city against the needs of 2,400 cusecs and with the saving of 500 cusecs or so water would be used for Karachi, taking the total quantum of supplied water to 1,700 cusecs. He said that another 700 cusecs of water would be saved through the lining of two more canals of the Kotri Barrage, Phulelli and Pinyari.

Kotri Barrage is a reliable source of water for Karachi. The Sindh government officials have been arguing that Indus River System Authority (Irsa) should ensure water supply for the metropolis. But it has not yet been done.

The Sindh irrigation department in Dec 2023 had cancelled tendering process after finding irregularities in the process. Departmental action was also taken against concerned officials by the then secretary irrigation, Dr Niaz Abbasi. Subsequently, an international competitive bidding (ICB) was held for the project by the department as per government’s decision.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024