HYDERABAD: Kotri Barrage authorities resumed supply of water to Kalri Baghar Feeder on Monday evening although work on the canal’s lining continued.

The barrage’s chief engineer, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, confirmed while talking to Dawn that water flows had been resumed this evening although in a gradual manner.

He informed that lining of the feeder in the length of around six reduced distances (RDs) from the canal’s head regulator had been done. “It is continuing in other reaches,” he said.

He said that resumption of supplies would offset impact of water shortage that had hit Jamshoro town and other areas. “Lining of a patch of around 10 RDs from RD-150 to RD-160 has been done in Thatta district,” he said.

He disclosed that work on the lining continued in the rest of feeder falling in Thatta district, which did not face water shortage because the district was being fed through Keenjhar Lake.

He said that water was being gradually released considering the fact that concrete work had just completed. Only an amount of water equivalent to about a foot was released into the feeder by 6pm, said sources.

The canal had been closed since Dec 20, 2024, five days before annual closure of Kotri Barrage which usually began every year for regular upkeep and maintenance. The canal was to be opened initially on Jan 15 whereas the barrage was opened for regular operation on Jan 10, said the sources.

The canal’s closure, however, had caused water shortage in Jamshoro, Bholari and other areas and academic process in three main universities came to a standstill. Although tankers continued to supply water but they failed to meet drinking water needs of the areas.

The multibillion rupees lining work was part of federal and Sindh government K-IV project for water supply to Karachi, which was approved by Executive Committee of National Economic Council.

It is a three-year project and work on it would continue for another couple of years. The lining project was conceived several years back and was subsequently approved by the federal government on the basis of 50-50 cost sharing.

This vital project aims to conserve around 518 cusecs of water in the feeder that would be supplied to Keenjhar Lake. The lake is principal source of water for Karachi from where Karachi Water and Sewerage Board lifts water for the metropolis. The feeder is a perennial canal on the right bank of Kotri Barrage.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2025