Pre-flood warnings: Four bunds could develop breaches

The authorities are working to raise them by 6 feet.

SUKKUR:

Four embankments in Ghotki district were declared sensitive by District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ghotki Zahid Ali Abbasi. If they are not strengthened in time, it could wreak havoc throughout upper Sindh if it floods.

The Qadirpur Loop Bund, Raunti Bund, Gemro Bund and Lundi-Miranpur (LM) Bund are in danger of breaking when the water levels rise during the monsoon.

Abbasi mentioned this while chairing a meeting of the disaster management committee a few days ago. "Repairs and strengthening work on these bunds is continuing, and we're hopeful that everything will be all right," he said.

The government says that 90% of the work has been completed. According to what was planned, all the bunds were to be raised six feet, but the Qadirpur loop bund has been raised to only four to five feet along its length. The embankments of other bunds have been earthed but they have yet to be stone pitched.

During the floods last year, the Ghotki feeder had developed four breaches at its right side, from RD-35 onwards. The gushing water had entered Reni canal, which was under construction, and had developed breaches in several places. Sources told The Express Tribune that although all the breaches that occurred in the Ghotki feeder and Reni canal have been repaired, the work is not satisfactory.

One private bund, Makhdoom Bund, near Qadirpur has been demolished by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA). It was constructed by the owner of Ghotki sugar mills, Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood, in the middle of Indus River to protect his sugarcane crop which spread over more than six hundred acres.

Another large private bund is constructed in the river near Rahim Yar Khan, and also hampers the flow of water. The Sindh government has requested the government of Punjab to demolish the bund but nothing has been done so far.

Last year, the Qadirpur loop bund was overflowing and the situation remained precarious for days. It needs to be fortified to protect Ghotki and other cities of upper Sindh from flooding. This bund already remains under tremendous pressure because of the OGDCL bund constructed right in the middle of the river.

SIDA Director Anwar Sial dismissed suggestions that the construction work was substandard.

All the bunds are being raised six feet and there is no compromise, he said. Speaking about demolishing the OGDCL bund he said, "This bund was constructed in 1996 with the approval of Indus River Commission." It was constructed to save vital installations from flooding. SIDA is not authorised to demolish this bund because it is a matter between the OGDCL and government of Sindh. It will be demolished if the provincial government issues orders, he said.

However, satisfied with the repair work of bunds, director SIDA was optimistic that everything will be fine.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2011.