SUKKUR, Feb 19: At least 60 tube-wells have been installed at the right pocket of the Sukkur Barrage to drain out water accumulating there. The tube-wells have been put on operation while three sub-engineers have been ordered to monitor the work round the clock.

According to irrigation sources, it was decided by the federal committee formed for rehabilitation work of the barrage to purchase 100 tons sheet piles and dredges to excavate slit from the Span-1 of the barrage and also to carry out detailed study to ascertain reasons which caused a ditch under the pillar of Span-1.

The sources said the committee met under the chairmanship of deputy chairman planning commission Dr Akram Shaikh which expressed its satisfaction over the work so far done for rehabilitation.

The meeting was told that filling of the ditch was under way and old sheet piles were being replaced with new ones. The meeting decided to purchase 100 tons of sheet piles and dredges for excavating slit while it was also decided to carry out detailed study of the Sukkur barrage to ascertain exact reasons of loss caused to it.

In the meantime, the agriculturists of the area posed a question mark over the proposal of raising of fifth span in the Dadu canal to increase its discharge as they were afraid that raising of another span in the canal could not only cause damage to the existing four spans of the Dadu canal but also to brick masonry work of the Sukkur barrage.

The agriculturists said all canals were already sharing shortage of water then how it is possible to increase the water discharge in the Dadu canal. They demanded that high ups should seek guarantees from the experts of the National Development Consultants that raising another span into the Dadu canal would not cause any loss to its already existing four spans and brick masonry of Sukkur barrage.

The guarantee should include how many years it would withstand increased pressure of water as it would change the entire design of the Sukkur barrage where from the water was being discharged into its all off-taking canals.

The Sindh government has demanded such guarantees from the NDC experts. The agriculturists said the change of design to raise fifth span in the Dadu canal could cause tremendous loss to the biggest irrigation system of the world.

On the other hand, 70,000 cusecs water has been released for Sindh from the Panj Nand head works which would reach at Guddu Barrage by Feb 20 raising the level upto 80,000 cusecs.

The Sindh irrigation secretary in the wake of ongoing rehabilitation work of the barrage has asked to store the water in the pond level of Guddu Barrage while the Barrage authorities have been asked to store only one foot more water into pond level so that the rehabilitation work of Sukkur barrage could continue without any hindrance.