SUKKUR, Jan 24: The repair work of the Sukkur Barrage is going at full swing as stone pitching is being done to plug the 40-foot-wide and 60-foot-deep ditch and many other small ditches to save the main structure of the barrage.

Talking to this correspondent here on Saturday, Sukkur Barrage executive engineer Aftab Halepoto, who is supervising the work, said 450 cubic feet stone pitching out of 2,500 cubic feet had been done.

He said 50,000 cubic feet concrete would be used to strengthen the structure.

Mr Halepoto further said modern X-ray technology would be used in the repair of the cracks in the barrage which would also reveal the damage caused in the depth.

Meanwhile, irrigation secretary Bashir Dahar rushed to Sukkur on Saturday and inspected the repair work of the barrage.

He directed the officials to complete the work as soon as possible.

Later, talking to journalists, he held the former irrigation secretary, chief engineer, irrigation, and Sukkur Barrage officials responsible for the situation.

He said the repair of the barrage should have been carried out three years back.

He said he had taken over the charge as the secretary for irrigation three months back. However, he admitted that it was a huge negligence and could have resulted in a big loss.

Mr Dahar said the barrage officials had informed him about the cracks and ditches four days back after which he visited Sukkur, inspected the barrage and ordered the repair work.

He said funds for the repair work had been released.

The irrigation secretary said he did not know whether the Sindh government or the minister for irrigation were informed of the situation.

According to him, no inquiry had been ordered into the matter.

Regretting that no repair of the barrage was carried out for the last three years, Mr Dahar said according to irrigation rules, maintenance of the Sukkur Barrage and its canals should be undertaken every year.

He said the officials had told him that the repair was not carried out for want of funds. He said now the stone pitching was being done and the barrage had been closed for all traffic.

Mr Dahar further said experts were being called from Karachi and plaster would be done over the stone pitching after they were consulted.

He however claimed that the cracks in the barrage structure were not dangerous and the situation was under control.

He said the filling of the cracks was also being done.

The secretary said 50 to 60 truckloads of stones had been dumped in the ditches.