SUKKUR, Feb 11: A team of geophysics experts has started soil testing of the foundation of the right bank of the Sukkur Barrage. The team is likely to submit its report to the FWO authorities in the next few days.

Giving a briefing on Friday, commander of the FWO task force for rehabilitation of the Sukkur barrage, Brig Javed Ashraf Bajwa, said the diagnosis of soil density was being done upto 30 feet in depth and it would help the FWO engineers to fill pits.

He said the entire work was being done in accordance with the terms of reference and it would be completed ahead of the schedule. Defending the soil testing of the barrage basement, he said it was very essential to investigate the condition of the soil after which further measures could be taken for cementing, grouting and concreting.

He said steel plates were laid to control water seepage from the barrage. He said two cofferdams one each at upstream and downstream would be removed after completion of rehabilitation work.

The use of filters is very helpful in strengthening the barrage basements and he added the FWO was also using this advance technology at the Sukkur barrage. He said it was accepted by the FWO as a challenge and the work was being done round-the-clock.

He said cement blocks of 4x4 feet were being manufactured in the FWO workshop on the daily basis and a total of 700 blocks were already in the stock which would be laid in the basement area.

He said monitoring, consultancy and supervision was being performed by the irrigation department while quality would be maintained by the FWO. Regarding the construction of fifth span to the Dadu canal, Brig Bajwa said the FWO received the drawing and designing of it from the irrigation department and the FWO would also undertake it after completion of the rehabilitation work.

The addition of fifth span would increase the existing capacity of the Dadu canal by 1,000 cusecs, he said. Brig Bajwa said the link canal work near the Ruk complex was also accomplished by the FWO two weeks ahead of schedule and the canal was receiving water flow from the Rice canal.