HYDERABAD, Jan 2: Sindh irrigation secretary Ashfaq Memon has said Wasa has to evolve a permanent mechanism to store water for more than two weeks, because annual closure of canals and the Kotri barrage is a measure which has to be taken to protect its foundations.

He said Wasa needed to take measures in this respect. He added that the irrigation department was trying to release water into the combined channel 24 hours before the scheduled time.

He was talking to journalists at the Kotri Barrage on Sunday. Kotri Barrage chief engineer Manzoor Shaikh, executive engineer Aijaz Shaikh and others accompanied him during his visit to the barrage.

Mr Memon said as per requirement of Wasa, water was not available at the intake point of the canal due to its closure but there was enough water in the navigational channel of the river which was being lifted by Wasa.

He said since the flow of the river was at 49.2 RL (reduced level), it did not match the level of the channel which was 56 RL. He said now the river level was being maintained so as to release water into the combined channel after being received at upstream. Currently, he added, the level had reached to 51.2 RL and hoped that it would reach 56 RL in the next 48 hours.

Mr Memon said a cofferdam was being built in the combined channel so that it should be dewatered for checking of its foundations and pavements before it received water.

He said hopefully water would be received on the night of Jan 5 but if irrigation officials succeeded in their efforts to match 56 RL level of the combined channel, water would be made available 24 hours before the schedule, i.e. on the night of Jan 4.

The official said he had personally seen that sufficient water was available which could be pumped by Wasa and added that in fact Wasa's own deficiency in storing water in lagoons had led to the water crisis.

He called for implementing recommendations of the chief minister's inquiry committee in the water contamination case. He said Wasa officials at their meeting with the chief minister on Dec 10 had complained about the change in schedule of annual closure of canals which indicated that they were aware of the change in schedule.

The irrigation secretary expressed satisfaction over the operation and maintenance of the barrage after being briefed by chief engineer Manzoor Shaikh. He was told that Rs2 million had been allocated for the operation and maintenance of the barrage and Rs7 million for maintenance of barrage's head works.