SUKKUR, Dec 9: Lt-Gen Zubair of the Army Engineering Corps and Maj-Gen Shahid Niaz of the Frontier Works Organization, along with Sukkur Barrage chief engineer Mohammad Nawaz Memon and project director and consultant Noor Mohammad Baloch, on Thursday visited the barrage and reviewed the repair work.

They expressed satisfaction over the progress of the work. Briefing Lt-Gen Zubair and Maj-Gen Niaz about the repair work, the barrage chief engineer and Brig Jawed Ashraf of the FWO said 75 per cent work on the coffer dam had been completed.

They said a channel would also be taken from the Rice Canal to supply water to the Dadu Canal. They said this work would be completed by April 2005. They thanked the president and the prime minister for taking interest in the repair of the barrage.

The chief engineer announced that the barrage would remain closed from Jan 1 to 25. He said during the closure period, desilting would be carried out from the Lance Down Bridge to the Sukkur Barrage which would be helpful in the repair work.

He said metal sheets had been imported from Belgium which would be fixed in cavities. He said help of foreign experts could also be sought. Earlier, Lt-Gen Zubair spoke to Army Jawans who were working on the project. He said initially Rs880 millions had been earmarked for the purpose. He urged them to work with dedication and complete the project on time.

Meanwhile, the chief engineer, irrigation, has notified that due to closure of the Sukkur barrage from Jan 1 to 25, there will be no flow of water in canals of the barrage - NW Kirthar Canal, Dadu Canal, Rohri Canal, Khairpur Feeder (west), Khairpur Feeder (east) and Nara Canal.