Balochistan’s 600 cusecs effluent affecting Sindh’s agricultural land

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With an aim to save at least 4.3 million acres of agricultural lands from water logging and salinity hazards from the effluent being disposed off by Balochistan into the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD-III), the WAPDA has propsed to pass 600 cusecs discharge from two channels already constructed at both the under passes of Kheer-Thar Canal and Saifullah Magsi Branch.

“Moreover, the Sindh Irrigation Department has no concern if a separate channel in the area of Balochistan for irrigation purposes of Balochistan and command areas of Rabi Minor of Sindh,” per the official documents, exclusively available with Pakistan Today.

In this regard, RBOD-III Project Director Zaheer Shah had recently forwarded a detailed letter No CDM/PC-I/RBOD-III/619 to Sindh Irrigation department secretary titled “Balochistan Effluent Disposal into RBOD-III”.

The RBOB is a major drainage project on the right side of River Indus to provide drainage facilities to save 4.30 million acres of land from water logging and salinity hazards.

The construction of Right Bank Outfall drain had been undertaken by the following agencies:

RBOD-I Stage I project for priority works was being executed by WAPDA. RBOD-II Stage-I &II was being executed by Sindh Irrigation Department. RBOD III project was proposed for providing facilities to province of Balochistan and was being executed by Wapda.

The decision was made during the consultative meeting on 18-4-2013 regarding re-alignment of RBOD-III project held under the chairmanship of Member (Infrastructure), Planning Commission, Planning and Development Division, Islamabad.

No discharge what so ever would be acceptable to pass through Saifullah Magsi underpass and enter in to Sindh for its disposal to Miro Khan Zero Point. The drainage effluent from Balochistan should be routed through Hairdin Carrier Drain parallel to FP Bund up to Chukhi for its final disposal into Miro Khan zero point, sources said.

The drainage effluent of 165 cusecs of Usta Muhammad Main Drain should be routed through Hadero Branch drain by gravity or by lift after remodeling of Hadero Branch drain and carrier drain from Chukhi to Miro Khan zero point.

The sources said the alignment of RBOD-III was carried out without considering the adjacent town, cities and infrastructure. The locals of Shahdadkot town were also not considered.

The alignment was not discussed with the locals, while the super floods of 2010 were also not considered, nor any heed paid towards the runoff of heavy rains in 2012, sources said.

As now, it was proposed by the Wapda authorities to pass 600 cusecs discharge of Balochistan effluent from two channels already constructed at both the under passes of Kheer-Thar canal and Saifullah Magsi branch. It is not the permanent solution of the problem and the threat would remain to Shahdadkot town and its adjacent areas, official documents revealed.

It was proposed that the siphon should be totally closed when the water was released, to avoid threat to Shahdadkot town and adjacent areas as per permanent solution of Hairdin Carrier drain up to Chukhi. The same 600 cusecs should be included in Hairdin Carrier drain by increasing its discharge so that the 800 cusecs would directly pass from Hairdin Carrier drain up to Chukhi.

Meanwhile, the effluent of RBOD-III and RBOD-I would be carried by RBOD-II up to the sea, in order to save Manchar from pollution water/saline water, to carry flood water and surface runoff upper catchment areas to the sea. The saline water and other flood water may cause damage to Manchar and Right Bank areas. Therefore, it was essential to complete RBOD-II in all respects before completion of RBOD-I and RBOD-III.