HYDERABAD: Caretaker Sindh minister for irrigation Eshwar Lal has recommended suspension of Chief Engineer of Sukkur Barrage Left Bank, superintending engineer and executive engineer for ‘misconduct and inefficiency’ in the rehabilitation work of Johi branch aqueduct which collapsed soon after it was put into operation, causing millions of rupees loss to exchequer.

The minister had an inquiry conducted into the aqueduct collapse through Kotri Barrage Chief Engineer Haji Khan Jamali and Sukkur Barrage Right Bank Chief Engineer Sohail Hameed Baloch, who said the work on the aqueduct was initiated after it suffered damage in September 2022 flood.

Since the construction of a new aqueduct (Kali Mori) from Johi Branch RD-77 to the tail of RD-238 and RD-550 was in progress under the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project, which was expected to be completed by the end of March 2024, the work on the repairs of the old aqueduct was started urgently to restore water supply to Johi and save crops.

On Dec 5, the structure’s repair was completed and water was released through it the next day but it could not sustain the pressure and collapsed in the early hours of Dec 6.

CE Jamali reported about the incident to the minister who visited the site the very same day. According to preliminary inquiry (read summary) by Jamali, curtain wall constructed at the site was not built strong enough to resist water pressure and it was major cause of ‘failure’ of the entire repair work.

The summary said that Sukkur Barrage Left Bank Chief Engineer Sardar Ali Shah had additional charge of Sukkur Barrage Right Bank CE till Nov 6, 2023, which was assigned to expedite pace of work at Kari Mori as growers urgently needed irrigation water to save their crops. He was required to stay there to get the work executed under his supervision but he did not bother to do so, it said.

The role of superintending engineer of Southern Sindh Circle, Riaz Ahmed Bhurgari, and executive engineer of Southern Dadu division, Balram, was found unprofessional and ‘unscrupulous. They were ‘equally’ involved in delinquency and mismanagement which not only wasted huge public funds but also brought disrespect to the department, it said.

Jamali said in his report dated Dec 7 that it transpired the work was carried out on verbal directives without design and approved drawing. Since the earthwork and concrete were fresh, it should have been left for some time to allow for gradual strengthening of the concrete.

The irrigation staff opened the channel in one go and passed 3.5ft to 4ft deep water flow despite opposition of contractor’s staff. “It [has] come to knowledge there was hearing in court and XEN and his staff were under pressure. They opened it in haste thus caused damage,” said the report.

He said that the structure failed due to ill-planning and mis-regulation by XEN and AEN and proposed restoration of the damaged part of Johi branch; repair of left bank with earthwork on RBOD side for people’s safety, commissioning of 10 pumps on the RBOD to provide water for Johi branch growers through rotation to save crops of Rabi.

Sardar Shah, who is presently performing umrah, did not offer his viewpoint despite repeated requests.

Johi without water for wheat“Now we don’t have water for wheat crop sown on 165,000 acres in Johi taluka,” said a veteran grower of Johi Umer Jamali while talking to Dawn over phone on Tuesday. “The officers wasted Rs40m released by the government for repair work. First, the aqueduct developed leaks when the flows were released. The leakage was repaired but when water was released again it collapsed,” he said.

The minister stressed the need for accountability and confirmed that the suspensions as recommended by him had not yet been notified by the government.

Jamali said that the earth as well as concrete work was still fresh. Adequate time was not given to the concrete for settling so that it could develop potential strength and durability.

Instead of restoring water supply gradually the channel was opened in one go up to 3.5ft-4ft depth of water contrary to the contractor’s advice, which resulted in sudden crumbling of the repaired structure.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2023