SUKKUR: Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro has said 56 manual gates of Sukkur Barrage are being replaced with the mechanical ones, for the first time, on the pattern of Guddu Barrage.

He was talking to media persons during a visit to Sukkur Barrage the other day, along with the barrage technical team.

The minister added that the weight of one gate of Sukkur Barrage would be reduced to 80 tonne after the installation of the new gates.

The irrigation minister said the Sukkur Barrage project was started in 2023 and it would last four years.

He told the media persons said the work on Sukkur Barrage was being carried out with the cooperation of the Sindh government and World Bank.

Sukkur Barrage is undergoing repair work at a cost of Rs74 billion, the irrigation minster said, adding that the complete project repairs included the replacement of the gates at Sukkur.

The irrigation minister said: “The economy and employment of Sindh is linked to Sukkur Barrage because it irrigates 7.6 million acres of land at a time.”

Jam Khan Shoro assured the people of Sindh that they would not compromise on the work of Sukkur Barrage as it was their lifeline.

When asked, the minister said the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) was not giving any importance to Sindh’s objections and reservations.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2024