SUKKUR, Jan 6: The city taluka administration has made alternative arrangement for uninterrupted supply of drinking water during the annual closure of off-taking canals of Sukkur Barrage beginning Jan 6 to 20.

Taluka Nazim Mohammad Naeem Siddiqui while talking to this correspondent by phone said that the irrigation authorities, like every year, had released water of River Indus in the downstream and all seven off- taking canals closed for silt clearance and necessary repair.

He said that the closure of canals results in water shortage for which Taluka Council had installed heavy pumps at Bukhar island and laid pipelines from Bukhar island to main water works for uninterrupted supply.

He said that he was personally supervising work and had ensured continuous supply to people. He said that reduction in hours-long loadshedding by Hesco may ensure unhindered water supply.People in Sukkur were already facing drinking water shortage because of long-duration power outages while public agitation could not compel Hesco in announcing a schedule or providing any relief to its consumers.

Incharge, Sukkur Barrage Control Room, Abdul Aziz Soomro when contacted by phone said that all off-taking canals had been closed from today (Tuesday) and water being released in the downstream. He said that the upstream and downstream of Sukkur barrage was 14,000 cusecs as no pond level were being maintained due to annual closure.

He said that during the 15-day closure all 66 gates of Sukkur Barrage and of canals were checked thoroughly with wire ropes greased and replaced, if necessary.

Pavements of canals were also checked for necessary repairs.

Mr Soomro said that the Chief Engineer Sukkur Barrage was supervising the work and added that the Secretary Irrigation Sindh and provincial minister were expected to visit Sukkur on Jan 20 to inspect the repair work.

LOADSHEDDING: The All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries has threatened a shutterdown strike throughout the country soon after Ashura to protest prolonged loadshedding.

The president of the organisation, Haji Mohammad Haroon Memon, announced this while chairing a meeting of different trade bodies.

The participants were aghast over unscheduled power outages lasting 15 to 20 hours which they ruled, had brought the economy at the brink of disaster due to wrong government policies.

Participants were of the view that the extended power breakdowns had bolted small industries in Sukkur and upper Sindh resulting in increasing joblessness and rotting of business activities.

The government was playing truant with people by announcing relief in loadshedding while hiking power and gas tariffs, they said.

Mr Memon castigated the government for pushing the already crippling economy towards total disaster. He challenged the government’s sincerity by calling it to fulfil its pledge of reviving the closed power generation units.