Flood situation at Kotri Barrage area under control

Flood situation at Kotri Barrage command area remained under control and Sindh irrigation department has already taken all precautionary measures to meet the challenge of current peak of flood which will enter the command area between July 17 and 18. If there was no rainfall during the period, the current peak of flood will not be over 250,000 cusecs of water, said Executive Engineer Kotri Command Area, Aijaz Shaikh while talking to APP here on Thursday.
He said proper inspection with extensive patrolling is being carried out both of the left and right embankments of river Indus, particularly at vulnerable points.
Aijaz Shaikh who completed the inspection of Sun-Veehdari Bund, a declared sensitive and vulnerable point at the right side of river Indus, said huts (Landhis) have been established at every mile both at the left and right embankments of the river where the irrigation staff is monitoring flood situation round the clock.
The wood and sandbags (Abkalani material) have also been dumped at these "Landhis" to meet any eventuality during the passage of flood peak, he said. Bulldozers have also been arranged and dispatched to vulnerable points of embankments, he added.
Giving details of Thursday's discharge position at the barrage, Aijaz Shaikh said 142,805 cusecs of water was recorded at the upstream and after withdrawals of 33,822 cusecs of water through the four off-taking channels, that is, Kalari Baghar Feeder at the right side and Akram Wah, Old and New Phuleli Canals at the left side of the barrage, the discharge at the downstream was 104,983 cusecs of water.
The peak of floodwater released from downstream of Sukkur Barrage will reach the Kotri Barrage command area between July 17 and 18, 2005, he said. He added that at present the floodwater has sti11 not touched the Katcha area, which included the riverbed of Indus. The embankments both at the left and right sides of the river were intact, he added.
The Executive Engineer Rohri Canal Hala Division, Sarwar Ali Shaikh, who is monitoring the flood situation at Bhanote Bund said the recent flood peak will pass from this area on July 16, 2005. He said irrigation department has already taken all precautionary measures including storage of sufficient quantity of stones, woods and sandbags along with bulldozers to meet any eventuality during the passage of flood peak from this vulnerable point, located at the left side of the mighty Indus.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) Hyderabad Major General Muhammad Mustafa also visited the protective bund of river Indus at Bhanote, some 80 kilometres from here the other day and made a thorough assessment of the bund directing the concerned authorities to take all protective measures. Officers of the irrigation department briefed him on the current flood situation and also highlighted the preparation made to meet any flood threat.
Chief Engineer Irrigation Kotri Barrage, Manzoor Shaikh on Thursday visited the protective bunds in Thatta district, and carried out a detailed inspection of the embankment particularly at vulnerable points. According to Sindh irrigation department, there are 31 vulnerable points, 16 points at 107 miles long front embankment at the left side and 15 points at 124 miles long front embankment at the right side of river Indus.