Ringing alarm bells: Seepage in Bunder wall sparks panic in Sukkur

The protective embankment was built to protect the city during the super flood of 2010

SUKKUR: With the water level at Sukkur barrage crossing 500,000 cusecs, the newly constructed Bunder wall that serves as a protective embankment for the city, has started seeping through, sparking panic among citizens.

The rising water level in Indus has also badly affected the water supply and drainage system of the city and the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC), like every year, has failed to take measures beforehand.

During the super flood of 2010, water level of Indus river had reached its peak and was flowing along the height of Bunder wall, overflowing at certain points. At the time, authorities had declared emergency in the city and a heavy contingent of police and Rangers personnel was deployed alongside the Bunder wall to avert any untoward incident. When the flood was over, it was decided to reconstruct the Bunder wall as the old one had developed cracks in many spots.

An amount of Rs210 million was allocated for constructing the new wall after demolishing the old one. However, instead of demolishing the old wall, the contractors covered it with a layer of concrete cement and raised its height up to six feet. Besides this, the construction of Bunder road and walkway was also part of the project, which has yet to be completed. Interestingly, the contractor has already received full payment for the construction of the road and walkway.

The use of substandard material in the construction of Bunder wall has started showing and, on Wednesday, water started seeping through it near Bunder road, sparking panic among residents. Sukkur deputy commissioner Shahzad Fazal Abbasi visited the site and told The Express Tribune that the contractor will be called and directed to repair the wall. Replying to a question about the wastage of funds, he said that nobody will be spared.

On the other hand, like every year, the suction pumping sites have been inundated due to rise in water level in Indus, resulting in the suspension of water supply to the city's major portion. Moreover, the drainage disposal stations have been shut down, as water level has risen above the pipes of the drainage. Because of this, instead of going into the river, drainage water is coming back and entering the houses in the low-lying areas of the city. The situation is likely to deteriorate as according to the fresh forecast of the meteorological office, heavy rains are likely in Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad.

Meanwhile, NSUSC Sukkur director Masar Dayo told The Express Tribune that the suction pipes of water supply were disturbed due to the rise of water level in River Indus. Because of this, he said, residents faced some problems but now the pipes had been repaired and water supply to the citizens had resumed. As for the drainage system, he said the pipes carrying waste water to the river had been submerged and, therefore, the corporation had blocked them to avoid backflow.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2015.