The government has decided to repair the ageing gates of Taunsa barrage to avoid total failure of the machinery, official sources told Business Recorder. The barrage supplies irrigation water to about two million acres of land in DG Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh districts.
Sources said due to continuous over use, the mechanical components of the barrage have outlived their life, adding that the deteriorating machinery needs more funds for replacement and repair of parts.
"Most of the mechanical components and structures of the Taunsa barrage have been damaged due to long wear and tear and weather vagaries", the sources added.
During 1996-97, on the request of the Punjab government, a study was conducted for "Taunsa barrage irrigation system rehabilitation" by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica), which confirmed that the gates and hydraulic structures of the barrage have deteriorated to the extent that they need to be rehabilitated immediately, but the plan was not implemented due to one reason or the other, the sources said.
Damages to the Taunsa barrage gate structure are concentrated around bottom of grooves in rocker assembly and roller trains, which is hindering operation, they maintained.
The study identifies that remedial works like rehabilitation, procurement of bulkhead gates to be used for gate rehabilitation, improvement in design faults of hoist system and super structure and gate rehabilitation prior to hydraulic structure rehabilitation, the sources added.
The main objective of the project is to eliminate mechanical problems of main barrage ie rehabilitation of gates and allied equipment. The major works include repair and rehabilitation of 11 under sluice gates and 20 weir gates by removing defects of grooves, hoist mechanisms, etc. Six bulkhead gates will be procured for gate rehabilitation and design for hoisting system will be improved for smooth and safe operation of gates.
Sources said the Planning Commission has recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) to approve Rs 11.2 billion for the project, of which Rs 6 billion would be provided locally while remaining funds would be arranged from donors.
According to the sources, the Planning Commission has also recommended that the project should not be transferred till the completion of the project.