Barrage damage inquiry ordered
Originally known as Lloyd Barrage, it was considered an engineering marvel when completed in 1932, capable of discharging 1.4 million cubic metres of water per second. PHOTO: AFP
The Sindh government ordered on Sunday an inquiry into the damage to the gates of the Sukkur Barrage, and appointed focal persons to immediately update the farmers about the possible water shortage and crop losses.
The provincial Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro announced a five-member committee comprising his department’s senior officials to find out the causes of the barrage gate collapse, identify the real culprits behind it, and determine the responsible officers. The committee would submit its report in five days.
Sukkur Barrage over Indus river – the largest single irrigation network of its kind in the world – was built over 90 years ago is considered pride of Pakistan’s irrigation system. The barrage consists of 66 gates with 7 off take canals to irrigate 70% of the province’s arable land.
On Thursday, the barrage official said in a statement that damages had been detected to gates number 44 and 47 of the barrage. They added that water supply into all the off-taking canals was suspended emergency repair work was started to restore two damaged gates.
Consequently, the supply from the barrage to Nara, Rohri, Khairpur East, Khairpur West, Northern Dadu, Rice and NW Canal was stopped.