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Sindh agrees to push ahead with barrage rehabilitation

World Bank to provide 90% of the $211m project cost.

Our Correspondent February 27, 2015

70% of the total cost will be spent on installing new gates with piezometric systems, which measure water pressure on either side of the barrage. PHOTO: APP

HYDERABAD: The Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) has given the green light to the $211 million project for the rehabilitation of Guddu Barrage, the first upstream irrigation structure on the Indus River in Sindh, which is expected to improve vital water supplies to farmlands in the province.

The World Bank will contribute 90% of the required financing through a loan after the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approve the scheme.

“We will most likely get approval from the federal government this year and the WB has already assured us of the availability of funds,” an official privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

According to him, the WB country head will meet officials of the Sindh Barrages Rehabilitation Project (SBRP) on March 1 to discuss the scheme.

The life of the barrage, built in 1963 with a capacity of 1.2 million cusecs, will be extended by another 50 years after the completion of this five-year project.

According to officials, 91 gates, including 66 at the barrage and 25 at regulator heads of its three off-taking canals, a new dividing wall and river training structures in the downstream will be built.

Up to 70% of the cost will be spent on installing new gates with piezometric systems, which measure water pressure on either side of the barrage for the purpose of maintaining a balance.

The left-side dividing wall in the barrage, which is currently built after the fourth gate, will be rebuilt after the seventh gate. This construction, which will help ease flows in left bank canals of Guddu, will consume 10% of the project cost.

As much outlay will be required for building a J-shaped spur, which will help give direction to the river water through an engineering structure in the barrage downstream. The remaining 10% of funds will be spent on consultancy services.

“Barrage rehabilitation is necessary after 50 years of running. Kotri Barrage underwent similar works in 2001 but the rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage is overdue,” the official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2015.

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