The Indus River Commission (IRC) in its 175th full committee meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah at CM House Friday has accorded technical approval to 7 different flood protective and communication development schemes fallen alongwith both river banks.
The IRC recommended to re visit and to further scrutinise 13 other schemes through subcommittee of the commission within shortest possible time, to ensure fool proof safety of the embankments. The IRC is the apex authority headed by Chief Minister Sindh, with all Chief Engineers irrigation region and Superintendent Engineers of all Irrigation circles MD SIDA, Director AWBs, as members, to approve flood reports/ schemes along both river banks in Sindh. In addition the minutes of last meeting 18 different flood protective and two communications (Roads - Bridges) schemes were discussed in detail by the members of the commission. After threadbare discussion NOC was accorded to five flood protective proposed schemes which include, providing stone pitching and stone Apron along with Qadirpur loop Bund, construction of Three stone studs along Qadirpur Shank Bund, recouping of maintenance section 20 of stone apron from 1/5 to 2/2 and providing 4 stone studs along Mile 2/0 to 2/4 old Tori Bund, construction of "J" spur along ultra Jagir Bund Mile 4/0 + 125 and construction of two "T" spurs at mile 4/2 + 300 & mile 4/4 + 580 in west division Khairpur, Besides recouping stone apron to maintenance section SM Bund mile 12/4 to 12/7 and 0/0 + 110 Bakhri loop Bund and escape channel RD- 28 + 700 to 29 + 00 and 30+0 to 30 + 325 and raising and strengthening of SM Bund mile 12/0 to 12/7 and escape channel RD 22 to 28 left side in Kandiaro Bund Sub-division was accorded necessary N.O.C. Similarly the meeting after detail discussion and assurance of technical viability recommended for issuing N.O.C for construction Road Bridge & mattled road along Baiji Bund mile 0/0 to 4/4 & R/N Bund mile 8/4 to 12/4 and Jhirk Mulla Katiar Bridge on Indus River. During the briefing on the Jhirk Mulla Katiar Bridge on Indus river the meeting was informed that previously the section of the bridge was designed as narrow, which was suppose to create obstacle in the flow of river specially during the high flood consequently this design was objected and it was recommended to the executing authority to increase its length up to 1700 meters to ensure Zero obstacle subsequently, the designed has been changed with 1700 meters as recommended by IRC. After the Hydrological model study, it has been proved that now this bridge was technically viable and will not create any obstacle in the flow of the Indus water. The IRC unanimously accorded the NOC for this project. The meeting was informed that construction work on Jhirk Mullo Katiar Bridge was in progress and it to be completed in April 2015. It will reduce the distance towards Karachi and facilitate the people of Lower Sindh.
Addressing the meeting the Chief Minister Sindh said that Sindh was Agro Based province and water was life line for its inhabitants. He said that effective ways, means and plans were essentially needed not only optimum utilisation of irrigation water but its conservation and protections as well. He said that after the past experience of flash flood, Sindh Government has spent huge amount to strengthen the flood proactive Bunds. He said that in addition to protecting the Bunds of Indus River, strategy for efficient utilisation of available water was very much essential for our Agro production, Agro employment and ensures flood security.
The Chief Minister Sindh directed the officers that henceforth they to bring such schemes 4 to 5 months before the budget for discussion. He also directed that financial status of early scheme must be mentioned in the meeting papers. The Secretary Irrigation Babar Effendi while briefing the meeting said that these proposed schemes have been prepared by keeping in view of experience of past flood. He said that all the schemes have been weighted, scrutinised before submitting the meeting, However he agreed with the Chair for re visiting these schemes from financial point of view.-PR
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