KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved Rs502 million for the irrigation department to cover the repair and replacement costs of the damaged gates of Sukkur Barrage.

The CM approved the funds while presiding over a meeting here at CM House. Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Irrigatio Secretary Zarif Khero and other officers attended the meeting.

The CM was informed that the emergency works cost Rs502m. The irrigation department was already facing a deficit, as the allocated funds were much less than the requirement according to the yardstick.

Irrigation Secretary Khero, while briefing the meeting, said that damages were detected at Sukkur Barrage on Gate Nos 44 and 47 on June 20. A preliminary assessment revealed that Gate No 44 was twisted but remained intact in full section (geometry), whereas Gate No 47 was substantially damaged.

To avoid further damage and facilitate the emergency repair of the gates, all Sukkur Barrage gates were fully opened to evacuate the upstream pond.

Consequently, the water supply to all canals off-taking from the left and right sides of Sukkur Barrage—such as Nara, Rohri, Khairpur East, Khairpur West, Northern Dadu, Rice, and NW Canal—was reduced until the restoration of the gates on an emergency basis.

Following day-and-night efforts, the engineers of the irrigation department rebuilt and restored the Sukkur Barrage pond level on June 26 —two days ahead of schedule. They also reinstated the water supply to the irrigation canals off-taking from Sukkur Barrage.

The chief minister praised the efforts and hard work of Mr Shoro, secretary Khero and their engineering team.

Mr Shoro expressed his gratitude to the chief minister for his appreciation and noted that Sindh was spared from significant financial loss and the resulting unrest.

The irrigation secretary informed the CM that Gate No 44 had been fabricated and brought to Sukkur, where it was placed in the mechanical workshop.

The CM was updated through a pictorial presentation that due to the flood season, replacing Gate No 44 was considered risky and had been halted. The gate’s deflection was being monitored, and since June 20, no increase in deflection had been observed. Consequently, experts had recommended additional strengthening work on the gate to withstand the flood season temporarily, secure the gate, and prevent further structural movement.

Additional C-Channels, H-Beams (horizontal and vertical), and fish plates had been attached. Corroded and damaged parts of the gates were repaired using advanced welding techniques.

The CM was also informed that two gates had been replaced and fabricated at Karachi Shipyard. The logistics—materials, jumbo bags, shutters, machinery, and manpower—were supplied, including labour, technical divers, and welders. M.S. plates, oxygen cylinders, cranes, and other materials were procured for the construction of a Buddha along damaged Gate No. 47, activation of the second old caisson gate, stripping of old Gate No. 7 of Sukkur Barrage, required repair works on Gate No. 44, and the strengthening of other gates (Nos. 24 to 59) of Sukkur Barrage on an urgent basis.

Machinery for the caisson gate was provided by the mechanical wing. The erection of the coffer dam and movement of the caisson gate at Sukkur Barrage were carried out by Bahria Dredging Company Ltd. (BDCL).

LG minister inspects Korangi Causeway

A bridge being constructed over Korangi Causeway is expected to open to traffic on January 1, 2025, said Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani.

The minister stated this while talking to reporters after inspecting the development works on the bridge over the causeway on Saturday.

The project is being defined by authorities as one of the mega uplift projects in Karachi. Project Director Tariq Mughal briefed the minister on the construction plan.

The minister said that work was in progress day and night.

He said the construction work would be completed by the start of the next year which would be a big gift of the Sindh government for the people of Karachi.

He said the Sindh government had been spending “billions of rupees” to complete mega uplift works all over Sindh, including Karachi, in pursuance of vision of Pakistan Peoples’ Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2024