Sukkur Barrage staff struggle to measure levels amid power cuts

Sepco officials said a high-tension wire snapped on Wednesday.

SUKKUR:

The power supply to Sukkur Barrage was restored on Thursday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after it was disrupted on Wednesday afternoon.

When the supply was disrupted, Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) officers attributed the power outage to the snapping of a high-tension wire.

A team of Sepco technicians tried to fix the problem but failed, said a Sukkur Barrage control room official, requesting anonymity. The barrage control staff had difficulties operating the barrage gates and its off-taking canals.

The barrage receives a supply from two stations: the right side of the barrage is supplied from Sukkur, while the left side receives power from Rohri. According to the official, the supply from Rohri is weak because it carries a low voltage which is why it is difficult to operate three-phase motors.

Since the Sindh government declared a flood emergency throughout the province, barrage staff have to take gauges every six hours but if there is no electricity, it is almost impossible to operate the system.

Barrage officials said they are in touch with Guddu Barrage staff over the exact volume of water being released downstream. We then have to operate the barrage gates and its off-taking canals upward or downward to decrease or increase the water level, they explained. Officials requested that Sepco officers ensure the barrage receives a smooth electric supply.

The Sukkur Barrage executive engineer, Aftab Khoso, was not available to comment. The Sepco Sukkur executive operation engineer, Ahmed Ali Shaikh, said that a 11,000 KV high voltage wire snapped, but has been fixed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2011.