No danger to Mehar, Johi, Sehwan: CM

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday took an aerial view of different protective bunds, including the Larkana - Sehwan (LS) embankment, and said they were not weak but vulnerable and hopefully would survive with constant efforts of the irrigation experts and the district administration.

The chief minister along with his minister, Taimur Talpur flew to Sehwan where he took an aerial view of different embankments, including Manchhar Containing (MC) Bund, MNV Bund, Johi Branch, and LS Bund of River Indus.

Shah said that these embankments were vulnerable, but irrigation engineers were monitoring and working day and night. He hoped that their efforts would protect Shewan, Mehar, Johi, Dadu, and even Larkana.

Murad Ali Shah said that the level of Manchhar Lake has been recorded at 122.75RL on Saturday while the level of its embankment known as MC Bund is 128RL.

He added that the winds of the South were causing wave washing. "There is stone pitching but the winds are so violent that causing wave washing, therefore more stones are required for pitching," he said, and added stones were being arranged for the purpose.

The chief minister said that the continuous flow of water into Manchhar has increased its spread up to 130 square kilometers. "In 2010 Manchar had broken when its level had reached 121.65RL but then repair and strengthening works were carried out," he said.

Shah said that currently, 16,000 cusecs of Manchhar water were flowing into River Indus but the situation would turn better when the River would start accepting 30,000 to 40,000 cusecs of Manchhar.

He added that when the water level at Guddu and Sukkur would come down to 300,000 cusecs, the gates of the Sukkur barrage would be closed to discharge Manchhar water into the River. "Right now, the Sukkur Barrage was flowing at 559,998 cusecs, therefore the River Indus is not accepting water from Manchchar in much quantity," he said.

Shah said that there was no benefit of giving a relief cut to Manchhar because its water instead of flowing into River Indus would form another lake in the area, therefore, it was advisable to wait for decreasing the level of the River and by the time we have to strengthen the MC bund.

Taking an aerial view of the Johi branch and LS Bund Shah said that KN Shah has been inundated but proper vigilance and monitoring were being done to avoid any breach in Johi branch to save Dadu.

He added that the Ring bund of Mehar was vulnerable but not so weak to develop a breach. "The irrigation experts are working on further strengthening Ring Bund to protect Mehar and Johi," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2022.