ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Consistent delay in completing the Rs3.4 billion Second Flood Protection Sector Project is hindering reduction of damage due to flooding.

Informed sources told Dawn that the project was to be completed under a revised programme by June 2006, but had been further delayed. As a result an estimated area of about 80,000 square kilometres of flood-prone tracts of land would lose agriculture production which protection would have brought.

Under four sub-projects, the Mangla Trimmu Reach of River Jhelum, Guddu Sukkur Reach and Chashma Taunsa Reach of River Indus and Toba Achakzai and Qila Abdullah of Balochistan province are also to be protected under the programme.

The sub-projects for physical flood protection works, improvement in flood forecasting, warning and preparedness and capacity building has also been included in the project.