THATTA: A section of the newly built concrete lining of the Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder developed wide cracks as soon as water was released into the irrigation channel.

The lining work was carried out to check water loss on account of seepage and to ensure speedy flow of projected 9,000 cusecs through the KB Feeder Upper, a perennial canal off-taking from Kotri Barrage.

In order to facilitate the lining and rehabilitation work, the channel had been closed for nearly two months during which Phase-I of the ‘Plain Cement Concrete Lining (PCCL)’ was completed. It is a vital project linked to the ‘Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme’, also known as the K-IV project.

Residents of the area and the workforce at the site claimed that the cracks appeared hours after water was released into the channel on February 3.

They believed that the newly built structure could not withstand the pressure of 9,000-cusec flow.

Some of them shared videos and photographs of the affected section on the social media which also showed dislocated rocks fixed during the stone pitching along the banks of the channel.

While the K-IV project is managed by Wapda and involves intake from Keenjhar Lake, the lining of the KB Feeder is a separate component managed by the provincial irrigation department. The project, with a revised cost of around Rs50.9 billion, is being funded on a 50:50 cost sharing basis by the federal and Sindh governments.

Its primary objective is to conserve 500 cusecs of water by preventing seepage. The quantum is essentially required to fill Keenjhar Lake for onward supply to Karachi.

The engineers privy to the construction work shared with Dawn the possible reasons for the damage. According to them, it might be caused by use of substandard material, poor compaction of the canal banks or the not allowing adequate consolidation time to the structure during the limited construction window provided by the annual barrage closure.

This reporter made many attempts to reach the irrigation officials concerned and dropped several messages to seek their version but without any response till Saturday evening.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026