MUZAFFARGARH, Jan 27: Work on the Taunsa Barrage Remodelling Project was halted on Friday night when a breach developed in an embankment stopping the flow of water towards gates 31 and 32, sources told Dawn on Saturday.

Construction companies had shut the gates where engineers and workers were working to improve the structure of the gates. The water flow was over 40,000 cusecs when the breach developed in the safety embankment near the gates. Engineers and workers working at the gates, however, were rescued. The workers plugged the gap in two hours. The chief resident officer of the Irrigation Department and senior officials of Descon and other construction companies were present at the breach site.

Construction companies resumed work on Saturday.

Earlier, a 90-foot breach developed in an embankment at the barrage site had disrupted the work on Jan 15 for one week. The Punjab government has set up an inquiry committee to fix the responsibility for the loss incurred due the breach. The World Bank has sponsored the Rs11 billion project which envisages a smooth water supply to the tail ends of Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh canals and mitigation of sediments.

Descon representative Captain Hamuyun Sajid (retired) said construction companies would complete the task in time.

Local farmers demanded that foolproof arrangements be made to complete the construction work of the barrage as in case the project got delayed, it would incur huge losses to farmers in Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.