SUKKUR, Dec 28 (APP/DNA): Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, accompanied by Secretary Irrigation Zarif Khehro on Sunday inspected the ongoing gate replacement work at Sukkur Barrage. He was briefed by officials on the progress of the project.
Speaking to media, Shoro said 26 gates have been replaced under the Sindh Barrage Improvement Project, with 27 more to be replaced this year. He said it’s the first time in the barrage’s 100 year history that the entire structure is being thoroughly checked and repaired.
The project involves replacing all 55 gates of Sukkur Barrage and 55 gates of connected canals at a cost of Rs17 billion. Shoro said the middle 30 gates face maximum water pressure, with 70% of water flowing through them.
The barrage’s floor is also being inspected and repaired. A cofferdam has been built between gates 15-22, and silt removal work is underway with Rs4 billion allocated.
The Minister said desilting will be done Jan 6-20, and the British era barrage’s rock pocket gates were closed for the same reason. A century-old wall was discovered upstream, built to reduce water pressure.
He said climate change is real, affecting water flow, and Sindh govt is taking steps to address it. Sukkur Barrage irrigates 80% of Sindh’s agriculture, and the renovation will add at least 30 years to its life.
Project Director Pritam Das, Chief Engineer Akramullah Qureshi and other officials accompanied the minister.
