DCO claims illegal constructions have government backing

DCO had warned the illegal locality was posing a threat to only protective wall saving Sukkur Barrage from flooding.

SUKKUR: Dozens of houses have collapsed in the Katcha Bunder area of Sukkur after water was released downstream from Sukkur Barrage on Thursday. Sukkur DCO claimed, however, that these houses were encroached upon and residents are backed by the government.

Sukkur Barrage was closed on January 6 for routine maintenance and will reopen on January 20. All seven off-taking canals of the barrage were closed and water was released into the downstream. But as the water gushed down, it submerged several houses located inside the protective Bunder wall.

The pressure was so intense that it caused a landslide and shook the very foundations of these houses. It may be noted that the entire area was inundated for at least 25 days during the flash floods in August last year.

According to building experts, the standing water weakened the foundations of these houses. As the water was released on Thursday, it washed away large amounts of sand which made the houses fall.

Irrigation authorities as well as the district administration claimed that they have tried many times to vacate this area but political pressures stopped them from doing so. Sukkur DCO Inamullah Dharejo told The Express Tribune that the neighbourhood is illegal and is spreading under the political umbrella.

The government should adopt a clear-cut policy for these people. Either they should be given an alternate space or they should be asked to make arrangements on their own elsewhere, he added.

Dharejo warned that this illegal locality is posing serious threat to the Bunder wall, which is the only protective wall to save Sukkur city from flooding.

Homeless once again

The houses collapsed one after the other and residents had to run for their lives. “I was cooking when I suddenly felt that my house was moving. Before I could stand up, the wall of my house collapsed,” said Maqsooda, wife of Bashir Mirbahar. “I immediately rushed to the room and dragged my children out of the house. As soon as we came out, our house collapsed like a house of cards.”

Another resident of Katcha Bunder who lives right next to Maqsooda’ house, Muhammad Ramzan Awan said: “Most of us came out of our houses after listening to Maqsooda’s scream therefore nobody was killed or injured”.

Khanzadi Mirbahar was gathering her possessions when her house split into two. “We rushed out leaving behind all our belongings,” she said, regretfully. Other residents, such as Hussain Bux Mirbahar, Lashkari Mirbahar, Muhammad Iqbal Mirani and Khawand Bux Shaikh were also unable to save their belongings.

The authorities did not show up in the night when the calamity hit but the DCO sent 50 tents to the displaced people. The tents have now been set up along both sides of the Bunder Road.

Meanwhile, people from Sukkur have also extended help to the displaced people and arranged blankets and quilts for the families.

Why the barrage is closed

The Sukkur Barrage road bridge was closed down on January 1 for repairs amid plans to modernise the structure and automate the gates. Sukkur Barrage Executive Engineer Zareef Khero told The Express Tribune that engineers of an international consultancy firm will visit and inspect the barrage for damages caused by the passage of the superflood.

He said that engineers from the Associated Consulting Engineers and Burq Aab will inspect the superstructure of the barrage, while hydraulic experts will inspect its pavement and filter blocks. However, he was optimistic that the structure had survived the flood in one strong piece even though its discharge capacity has been reduced to 900,000 cusecs and during the flood, more than 1,100,000 cusecs water passed through it.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.