SUKKUR, Jan 3: A five-member team of international and national engineering companies reached here from Lahore and Karachi on Monday for inspection of Sukkur Barrage.

But Executive Engineer (XEN) of Sukkur Barrage Zareef Khero failed to meet them because he was out of the city, according to sources.

The team has been tasked to prepare a report of damages occurred to the barrage during the flash floods in 2010 so that repairs can be started as early as possible.

When contacted on cellphone, Executive Engineer Khero refused to give the names of team members and tell the details of inspection. He said that the team had told him not to give their names and any detail about the inspection and repair works to be carried out.

Earlier, when this correspondent visited Mr Zareef’s office at about 2pm, he was not available. His staff said he had gone to Sukkur Barrage with the engineer’s team while his cellphone was switched off.

When this correspondent tried to go to Sukkur Barrage to see where the team members and the XEN Barrage were inspecting, the irrigation authorities and personnel of Rangers and police did not allow entry to the inspection site.

Sources said that Zareef Khero was out of Sukkur city and he had held no meeting with the engineering experts. Their first meeting would be held on Tuesday, they added.

They said that he had issued directives to his subordinates that no information about the repair work of the Sukkur Barrage may be passed on to newsmen and keep them away from the team members.

The sources said that Ibrahim Soomro, Mohammad Zafar and two other members of the teams informally visited Sukkur Barrage.

Earlier on Dec 31, the executive engineer told this correspondent that the irrigation department had completely closed one and half kilometre area of Sukkur barrage for inspection, repair of the damaged gates, arches and pillars of the barrage.

He said that a comprehensive report about the structure position and repair works of the barrage was prepared after a detailed discussion with irrigation experts, including retired engineers. It was submitted to the government and it was suggested that the repair work would be completed before rainy season in 2011.

Sources said that at least four of the 66 gates of the barrage, arches and water distribution walls were severely hit by the floods and they needed urgent repairs.