Manchar Lake flood risk significantly reduced

The World Bank Mission has expressed satisfaction with the substantial reduction in flood risk from Manchar Lake, which has decreased by 70%. This improvement is attributed to the increase in discharge gates at the Aral Wah head regulator from five to twelve, allowing the discharge rate to rise from 12,000 cusecs to 52,000 cusecs. This enhancement will reduce the lake level by one foot within 24 hours, down from the previous reduction of two inches.

A spokesman for the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP) reported on Wednesday that the embankment level has been raised by two feet along its 30-kilometer stretch, which has also been widened from twenty to thirty feet. The World Bank mission is in Karachi for a three-day visit to review progress on two ongoing projects: the Sindh Resilience Project and the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project, both funded by the bank. This initial meeting was held with officials from the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) irrigation component to assess the activities completed thus far.

The meeting also highlighted the achievements of the Sindh Resilience Project (SRP), which has constructed 70 small dams in drought-affected areas of Sindh. These dams provide drinking water and support irrigation, resulting in bumper agricultural yields in areas like Thar. The initiative has enabled local communities to harvest two crops annually, significantly improving their socio-economic conditions and living standards.

Mehran University of Engineering and Technology is conducting an impact assessment study on the construction of these small dams, scheduled for completion by August 31, 2024. The SRP is set to officially conclude on June 30, 2024. Additionally, the meeting reviewed the financial utilization of both projects, confirming that the allocated funds have been fully and transparently used.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2024.