KARACHI, JUNE 15, 2011: Sindh Irrigation Department has failed to meet the deadline to complete 41 rehabilitation schemes of Indus and non-Indus dykes, reliable sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday.

High level officials of the irrigation department had announced that they will complete work of rehabilitation of Indus and non-Indus dykes till 31st of May 2011 but could not complete the schemes on the given time.

Despite failing in achieving the target, many officials of Irrigation department claimed that they have completed major rehabilitation schemes, while the rest would be completed till 30th June 2011 but the report compiled by irrigation department disclosed that 'not a single scheme has been completed yet'.

According to the irrigation department's report namely "physical progress of flood protection works in Sindh up to May 31st", obtained by Business Recorder, 92 percent work has been done on the scheme of construction of new Gorhaghat-Tori-Makhwani link Bund from mile 0/0 to 3/0 (first defence line at Tori Bund connecting Gotrhaghat to Tori and Makhwani Bund) in Kasmore-Kandhkot, 35 percent work has been done on scheme of restoration of stone apron mile 5/7+100 to 6/1+100 of Qadirpur loop Bund in Ghotki-Mirpur and 46 percent work finalised on the scheme of raising and strengthening of Qadirpur Loop Bund from mile 0/0 to 8/4 and extension of stone pitching from mile 5/0 to 7/2, providing stone pitching from mile 0/0 to 5/0 and 7/2 to 8/4 in Ghotki-Mirpur.

The report further mentioned that 28 percent work has been done on scheme of raising and strengthening of earthwork along M.S Bund from mile 34.6 to 55.4 in Thatta, 52 percent carried out on scheme of raising and strengthening of earthwork along P.B Bund from mile 0/0 to 15/0 and providing stone pitching from mile 4/4 to 5/5 in Thatta, 62% work has been done on scheme of earthwork and providing stone pitching and dumping stone at breach site (Kot Almoo) M.S Bund from mile 18/1+150 to 18/3+30 in Thatta, 74 percent work done on scheme of raising and strengthening of earthwork along KBF Upper (River Bund from RD 35.0 to 145.0) in Jamshor-Thatta and 38 percent work has been done on the scheme of raising and strengthening and providing stone pitching of Manchhar Containing Bank from Rd 0 to 100 in Jamshoro-Dadu.

Besides, 71 percent work has been done on scheme of raising and strengthening of earthwork and providing stone pitching along S.H Bund from mile 0/0 to 3/2 R/S of earthwork and stone pitching along all Bahar Bund from mile 0/0 to 2/2 and raising and strengthening of earth work and providing stone pitching along Hillaya Bund from mile 0/0 to 0/6 in Thatta, 79 percent work carried out on scheme of Stone pitching of remodelling of Surjani Bund mile 0/0 to 1/7 in Thatta, 16 percent work done on scheme of raising and strengthening of Bandar walls and Bunds in Barrage division of Sukkkur, 70% work has been done on recoupment stone apron Aqil Loop Bund Mile 2/0 to 2/5 in Larkana and 39 percent work done on raising and strengthening of Larkana-Sehwan Bund from mile 77/2 to 102/0 and providing stone pitching from mile 84/0 to 92/0 in Jamshoro-Dadu.

Report added that 31 percent work has been done on construction of stone pitching along S.M mile 0/5 to 2/4, front Bund mile 0/0 to 3/, S. M Bund, mile 7/4 to 8/4, stone pitching Kandiyaro scape RD 26 to 29 R/S and RD 28 to 52, L.S Bund mile 40/0 to 42/0 and 45/0 to 46/0, 51/0 to 52/0 and RD 54/0 to 57/1, 61/0 to 63/0 and 64/0 to 65/0 and 74/4 to 78/5 in Khauirpur-Naushehroferoze, 58 percent work done on raising and strengthening closing breach, repair to stone pitching and bund sluice along Suprio Bund Rd 0 to 95 in Dadu, six percent work done on reconstruction of Danstar Head Regulator in Jamshoro, 78 percent work done on raising and strengthening and providing stone pitching along F.P Bund Rd 0 to 220 including closing breach Rd to 147 in Dadu and 43 percent work has been done on raising and strengthening and providing stone pitching along F.P Bund RD 346 to 395 (Hamal lake portion ) including closing 4 No breaches RD 483 to 485 in Qambar-Shahdadkot.

Similarly, 84 percent work has been done on scheme of Extension of trench Bund with stone pitching, raising and strengthening from mile 7/2 to 15/7 of left Marginal Bund of Rahimyar Khan-Rajanpur, 65 percent work done on re-sectioning of K.K Bund mile 10/0 to 14/3 and construction diaphragm wall mile 12/4 to 14/3 in Kasmore-Kandhkot, 36 percent work done on re-sectioning of Kashmore Bund from mile 19/2 to 21/6 and providing stone pitching from mile 20/7 to 21/6 and providing stone pitching from mile 20/7 to 21/7 and providing diaphragm wall from mile 19/2 to 21/6 in Kasmore-Kandhkot, 55 percent work has been done on R&S of Baiji Bund from 0/0 to 10/3 and providing stone pitching from mile 6/4 to 10/3 in Sukkur, 44 percent work carried out on scheme of R&S of L.M Bund (old) mile 0/0 to 6/0 and raising of stone pitching mile 0/0 to 3/1 in Ghotki-Mirpur, 53 percent work has been done on recouping and construction of stone pitching and earthwork along Ghallian front Bund mile 0/0 to 12/7 in Hyderabad and 68 percent work has been done on scheme of R&S of H.P Bund mile 0/0 to 20/0 providing stone apron mile from 4/0 to 5/0+330 and providing and raising stone pitching mile 9/0 to 12/4, 0/0 to 9/0 and 12/4 to 15/0 in Tando Mohammad Khan.

Although, the above mentioned report was till 31st May and 15 days have passed of June but the work is still continue on all 41 schemes, sources told. Many officials of the irrigation department were of the view that rehabilitation schemes would not be finalised till 30th June 2011.

Due to this situation, growers of flood-hit districts are not sowing crops because they are afraid that if floods will come again, then continued work of rehabilitation would be washed out. This scribe tried to get the version of Secretary Irrigation, Khalid Hyder Memon regarding the matter, but he neither was in office nor attended calls on his mobile phone.


Courtesy: Business Recorder