'Rehab to add 30 years to Sukkur barrage's life'

Sindh irrigation minister says Rs17b restoration will extend the barrage's lifespan

HYDERABAD:

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro has expressed that Sukkur barrage's life will extend by 30 years after the ongoing rehabilitation. Talking to the media in Sukkur district on Monday during a visit to the barrage, he said the installation of 26 gates of the barrage will be completed by June this year.

The barrage, which has completed over nine decades of its post commissioning existence, underwent replacement of its 17 out of 60 gates in 2024-25. "Around 90% of Sindh's agricultural land is irrigated by the canals flowing from this barrage," Shoro said while highlighting its significance.

According to him, the rehabilitation is going to cost around Rs17 billion. He said in view of the recent damages to the barrage's gates, sturdy cofferdams are being built to support the ongoing engineering works.

The minister apprised that the Indus RIver System Authority (IRSA) has projected a 27% water shortage for the current season. He said the irrigation officials have undertaken canal lining and desilting exercise in view of the shortfall to reduce water losses.

Shoro asked the farmers to learn techniques of irrigating crops with comparatively lower quantity of water, citing climate change effects as the necessitating factor. The minister assured that the traders of river sand operating unlawfully in the province by lifting sand and selling it for mostly construction purposes would soon face action.