GUJRAT: The Irrigation department could not complete the repair work of those embankments and spurs along the Gujrat side of the river Chenab that had been badly hit by the last year’s flood.

Around a dozen spurs were either partially damaged or washed away in the last year’s flood in Gujrat causing a major damage to agricultural land.

When media highlighted the issue, the provincial government and the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) had taken notice of the matter and a sum of Rs 130 million was approved for the repair and construction of some portions of the damaged spurs and embankments some two months ago.

Official sources say the work on the project (repair and construction) was delayed due to official formalities. Now, when the contractors have taken the work in hand the rainy season is at its peek.

An official team comprising Gujrat DCO Liaqat Ali Chatha, district flood relief officer Ahmed Raza and officials of the irrigation department paid a visit to at least nine sites along the bank of Chenab on Tuesday where the repair work was underway.

The official team visited the previously worst hit villages such as Shahbazpur, Marri Khokharan, Chupala, Qasimabad, Behlolpur, Kot Patuwan, Nutt Tibba, Mandiala and Kot and inspected the work in progress.

Official sources said that the district government had expressed concern over the delay in the start of the repair work and directed the irrigation department to expedite the pace of work besides keeping a vigilant eye on the water level and flow of the river round the clock whereas the arrangements to shift the local population residing in the areas along river bank in case of any emergency were also reviewed.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2015

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