Annual repairs: Sukkur Barrage canals to remain closed for 15 days

Authorities asked to make alternative arrangements to supply drinking water to the citizens

SUKKUR: North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC) has been directed to make alternative arrangements to supply drinking water to the citizens, as the seven off-taking canals of Sukkur Barrage will remain close for 15 days for annual repair and maintenance.

These orders were issued by Sukkur Barrage chief engineer through a notification. According to Sukkur Barrage control room incharge Abdul Aziz Soomro, all the canals will remain closed from January 5 to January 20, 2016.

Other than suspending water supply to the seven off-taking canals during the closure, all the gates of Sukkur Barrage will be raised to allow water flow in the downstream, the incharge said. Besides the oiling and greasing of the gates, flooring and filter blocks of the barrage and canals will be examined thoroughly to repair them if needed.



Every year Sukkur barrage authorities inform NSUSC to make alternative arrangements to supply water to the citizens. However, they delay the arrangements due to which citizens have to face acute shortage of drinking water. People living in low lying areas of Sukkur mostly use underground water, while those living comparatively on higher grounds have to fetch drinking water from the hand pumps installed in the low lying areas.

For the last two decades, a plan to draw underground water from the river bed is pending, which can prove as a blessing for the people especially when water level in the river decreases in the winter season. However, nothing has been done yet to execute the plan and the residents of Sukkur, living at the right bank of the Indus River, have to face problems during the annual closure of the canals in the month of January.

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