Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Tuesday inspected different dykes including Shank and Qadarpur Loop dyke at Ghotki district to review flood preventive measures and assured that concrete steps were taken to protect the population from maximum losses.
The chief minister said the province was facing water and energy problems despite the fact that they were key organs of Sindh economy. The chief minister said that water was backbone of the agriculture sector of Sindh as was energy for the industrial and social development sectors. “Without the source of water and energy, we cannot achieve development goals,” he said.
A strict monitoring of Indus embankments and dykes of canals and other waterways was being ensured to avoid damage to agricultural lands and villages, he said.
The CM said that all departments, relief agencies and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had already been put on a high alert to meet any unexpected situation.
He said that staff of relevant departments along with machinery and equipment had been made available at sensitive spots. Shah said that his government had strengthened most of the protective bunds after the 2010 super flood.
He informed the provincial government had already completed the work of de-silting of canals and channels adding that soon 15 gates of the Sukkur barrage would be repaired and activated with deep digging to enhance water capacity at the barrage. It would also extend life of the barrage to next 25 to 30 years with the enhancement of water capacity, he added. He lauded the services of Pakistan Army in rescue and relief efforts in rain-affected areas.
Irrigation officials gave him a briefing regarding flood situation and monsoon rains. Chief Engineer Irshad Ahmed Memon informed the chief minister that the Guddu barrage’s capacity was now 1.2 million cusecs. However, the Sukkur barrage design capacity was 1.5 million cusecs when it was built in 1932. In 1945, its 10 gates were closed leaving it with 56 gates with a designed capacity of 900,000 cusecs. The Kotri barrage’s designed capacity is 875,000 cusecs.