Pakistan and Japan are likely to sign a grant agreement of Rs 1.225 billion for the uplift of 29-floodgates along with construction of five-bulkheads of Taunsa Barrage this month. Informed sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica) would finance and execute the project. According to the agency, uplift of floodgates included replacement of seven and improvement of 22 gates.
The sources said that some vital components of the floodgates and gearing equipment installed at Taunsa Barrage in 1958 has deteriorated. The situation has become so alarming that immediate repair/rehabilitation of damaged components was essentially required.
They added that various agencies visited the site and summarised the replacement and improvement of critical components including roller trains, rocker assemblies, roller tracks and still beams that were rusted and jammed. The end girders and skin plates in some cases were also damaged particularly lower portions of under sluices.
These agencies also proposed that the existing height of the gates be raised by one foot to cater for rise in water level on account of upstream sedimentation.
According to the sources, the existing manually operated hoist mechanism would be replaced with suitable motorised hoisting assemblies.
This system would be capable of operating the gates through remote control from a central control room having computerised monitoring and control arrangements, they added.
The sources informed that project has been approved by Central Development Working Party (CDWP) while the Executive Committee on National Economic Council (Ecnec) was expected to approve it in its next meeting.