SUKKUR May 25: The water level at Sukkur Barrage was gradually increasing, and on Tuesday more than 20,000 cusecs was released for Kotri Barrage. The water level position would further improve in the next few days with fresh arrivals of water from upcountry taking place due to ice melting at the mountains in the summer months.

This was stated by the barrage's Superintending Engineer Arshad Khawaja was explaining about the on-going repair work on the right bank gates of the barrage.

According to him, concreting work of the right bank gates of Sukkur Barrage will be started from Wednesday, 26th May, 2004, and most likely it would be completed by 15th June, 2004.

He said that at the first hand repairs and filling of pits of Barrage pond was given priority which has been now completed. The same were causing a major threat to the Barrage's structure for the last several months.

The engineer stated that a reputed engineering firm of Karachi was given the task of repairing the pits and complete the concreting near the area of Gates No. 1,2.3,4 and 5 and they would complete it by June 15.

He said for the time being, and till the completion of concreting work, all traffic has been prohibited through the Sukkur Barrage's right bank, and DCO Sukkur has also been informed accordingly.

Regarding the water flow position, the engineer said, it is gradually improving and on Tuesday (25th June) 20,000 cusecs water was released for Kotri Barrage. He was optimistic that the quantity from Sukkur for Kotri Barrage may be increased with more water arrivals from upcountry.

At Kala Bagh at the same time on Tuesday, more than 150,000 cusecs of water was being discharged downstream area, and this was termed as a very positive sign by the superintending engineer.