After two-week annual facelift, Sukkur Barrage opens today

Irrigation official says barrage is capable of surviving another super flood.

SUKKUR: After being closed for nearly two weeks for annual maintenance and repairs, the Sukkur Barrage will open today.

The irrigation authorities announced that the gates of the barrage will start to lower at midnight, between January 20 and January 21, to maintain pond level.

The authorities have also directed the relevant departments to send their indents on the release of water in the canals so that their demand could be met.

According to the tradition, an irrigation official pays a visit to the barrage one day before it opens to finalise all repairs.

During his visit on Wednesday, Sindh irrigation secretary Rafiq Memon seemed satisfied with the work after he went around the barrage and its off-taking canals.

Memon was optimistic that Sukkur Barrage is quite capable of surviving another super flood, similar to the one that passed last year.

Sukkur Barrage executive engineer Zareef Khero pointed out that no funds have been released for these annual repairs and maintenance. He refused, however, to elaborate this claim and said he was too busy to talk.

These repairs are essential and the authorities cannot wait for funds to be released, Memon said. “They must have received some funds for the purpose and, if not, then they will get them later,” he added.

Rehabilitation of the barrage will start soon as consultants have been given Rs20 million for a study, he said. Referring to the repairs of dykes, Memon said that the project is nearly approved and repairs are likely to start in the first week of February.

During the repairs this year, all the gates of the barrage and its off-taking canals have been oiled and greased but the authorities have yet to remove the tons of silt, which has accumulated in the bed of the river and its canals.

Traditions

Every year, Sukkur Barrage is closed between January 6 and January 20 for repairs and maintenance. During this time, necessary repairs are carried out, with special emphasis on the pavement of the barrage and its off-taking canals.

In the canals, cement concrete is paved from its gate up to 200 feet, after which filter blocks are placed. These blocks cover an area of 200 feet. Loose stone apron is also placed next to the blocks. According to irrigation officials, the purpose of filter blocks is to pump out any seepage in the pavement. Hence, an open space of four inches is given between the filter blocks.

This gap is filled with crushed stone to avoid wastage of sand, which is placed under the filter blocks. Presently, the gaps are filled with mud but irrigation officials assured that it will be removed and filled with stones.

The visit to the barrage also revealed that all seven off-taking canals were de-watered and dozens of labourers, including irrigation officials, were busy removing silt from the pavement and filter blocks of the canals.

Besides this, oiling and greasing of the gates, steel ropes and train rollers was done to make sure the gates operate smoothly. An irrigation official said that oiling and greasing of the gates is done once a year at the time of closure.

He added that all the gates of the barrage were replaced in the year 1986, because Gate No. 31 broke in 1983 and all gates and counterweights had to be replaced.

All the gates require repainting at least every 10 years but the last paint job took place in 1986. The official feared that if the process is delayed further, the gates may become rusty and break down.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2011.