HYDERABAD, Jan 29: A recent decision taken by the board of directors of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority not to take over the Chotiari Reservoir from Wapda in its present incomplete shape and without removing defects is likely to be rescinded by high-ups of the Sindh government, this correspondent has learnt through reliable sources.
Inside sources said the matter was placed on the agenda of a high-level meeting held on Jan 5, presided over by the additional chief secretary, planning and development, in Karachi but it was deferred.
Sources said Wapda authorities in a letter, dated Dec 3, 2003, to high authorities of the Sindh government had called for the transfer of the Chotiari Reservoir.
They said the Nara Canal Area Water Board in a report submitted to Sida had recorded reservations on the present structure of the reservoir. Besides, officials concerned and independent experts had expressed apprehensions that in case the NCAWB was compelled to take over the reservoir in its present shape, it might prove another blunder like that of taking over an incomplete and defective Left Bank Outfall Drain by Sida.
They had warned that if it happened then recurrence of series of disasters in the area, particularly during heavy rains and floods, could not be ruled out, the sources added.
Professor Mushtaq Mirani told this correspondent that if the incomplete Chotiari Reservoir was handed over to the Sindh government, it would pose a danger to the people during rains.
It was learnt that Sida was of the view that even after the completion of the reservoir and removal of its defects, it should be jointly run by the NCAWB and Wapda for two rainy seasons before it was handed over to the Sindh government.
Independent experts as well as Sida authorities are not in favour of taking over the charge of the reservoir as they say the project is not complete and the Makhi-Farash Link Canal, meant to carry stored water to Umerkot and other remote areas, is still confined to mere paper work.
Sources said the link canal was remodelled up to RD-100 and RD-470 and was still to be completed. They said the federal government announcement about construction of the Chotiari Reservoir, phase-II, also included revamping of the irrigation system in Sindh.
However, they said, the Chotiari Reservoir project would not be considered complete till the link canal was constructed as the very purpose of providing water to lower Nara could not be accomplished without it.
They said under the project, the discharge capacity of the Nara Canal was to be increased from 14,700 cusecs to 20,000 cusecs. However, at present, the Nara Canal could not carry more than 15,000 cusecs. Experts were of the opinion that it was necessary that the canal was brought to its original designed capacity and operated for filling the Chotiari Reservoir, as this additional 6,000 to 7, 000 cusecs water would help fill the reservoir, the sources said.
They said the Ranto Escape was also a chief source for filling the Chotiari Reservoir and was at upstream of the Jamrao Head Regulator which was designed to discharge 6,500 cusecs to fill the reservoir. But, they further said, its present capacity could not carry more than 3,000 cusecs water and it was necessary to undertake rehabilitation work to bring it to its designed capacity to fill the dam.
During the recent rains, some leakage had reportedly occurred at the embankment of the reservoir at RD-584, where repair work was in progress. According to reports, the Chotiari Reservoir is filled to 50 per cent of its capacity of 0.71 million acre feet water and frictional blocks at the inlet of the reservoir from the link channel of the Ranto Escape are so designed that fish cannot move from the Chotiari Reservoir to the link channel, therefore, a fish ladder is needed to be installed at the inlet. Some people, who are still living inside the area of the reservoir, have to be evacuated and alternate arrangements for their settlement have to be made.
Experts believe that a holistic environmental study of the Chotiari Reservoir is also necessary with the participation of stakeholders, including farmers and fishermen.
An agricultural expert and leader of an intellectual forum, Nazeer Memon, said the payment of compensation to displaced persons alone was not enough and they should be provided with an alternate source of livelihood.