Flood rehabilitation: Govt seeks UK help in barrage extension

Govt seeks foreign help in strengthening and extending Guddu and Sukkur barrages.

HYDERABAD:

The foreign ministry is negotiating with the British government for help in strengthening and extending the Sukkur Barrage, said Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference here after visiting the Indus River banks along with officials and elected representatives, Dharejo said Guddu and Sukkur barrages had to bear heavy water pressure during the flood so the government is taking special measures to strengthen them. He said that the Sindh government has gotten a loan of Rs20 billion approved from the Asian Development Bank for rehabilitation of river banks and canals that had been damaged in last year’s floods. However, the federal government has yet to hand over all the funds that it promised. “The Indus River System Authority also owes Rs5 billion to Sindh,” Dharejo added.“We started repairs and filling of river breaches in February and the work is expected to be completed in May,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2011.