World Bank to rehabilitate Sukkur Barrage for Rs16bn in four years

KARACHI: The World Bank has agreed to finance the much awaited rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage for the provincial government.

The decision was taken in a meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and World Bank Country Director Mr Patchamuthu Illangovan and his 14-member experts and sector chief delegation.

CM Sindh said that the feasibility study for of Sukkur Barrage’s rehabilitation was conducted by an international consultant and the draft was reviewed by experts, and further revision was made by World Bank experts, including experts in dam design, sedimentation and structures.

He said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was also reviewed by the consultant in August 201, and the environmental and social assessment report was also submitted.

The chief minister, giving details of assessment findings, said that barrage structure has been declared safe and rehabilitation works could extend its life indefinitely. The rehabilitation works would be implemented over a period of four years and would cost around Rs. 16.256 billion.

He said that the rehabilitation works for existing barrage selected for design discharge 1.3 million cusecs, which would not require any changes in the existing right pocket river training works.

He added that additional studies have been recommended during the implementation stage including location study for a new barrage, sediment transport modeling and monitoring study, physical model study in UK or Holland, enabling increase in the barrage flood handling capacity to 1.5 million cusecs.

The rehabilitation includes repair work to the barrage and canal regulators structure under which roller-compacted concrete and stone arches, piers and filling above the Arches of Barrage and head regulators would be made. There would a complete replacement of gate deck flooring, replacement of barrage road surface and storm water drainage, and includes raising height for existing left pocket divide walls.

Furthermore, the dredging and canal desilting would be made on the left and right pockets include Dadu, Rice and NW canals. The replenishment Scour Protection Works Foundation, and inspection and repairs of building works includes the central control and monitoring office and workshops, a mosque and officer’s residence and rest house would be carried out.

The monitoring and control instrument would have automatic water level recorders, vibrating wire piezometers, reactivation of existing water level observation wells, permanent discharge measurement station and CCTV and Telecommunication facilities.

CM Sindh said that mechanical works and procurement includes repair and increasing gate height by two feet, replacing existing temporary wooden planks, increasing freeboard by changes in gate hoisting to work without counterweights, installation of gate lifting motors, replacing the existing system of four trolley-mounted motors for operation of gates, replacement of all moving components and seals, fabrication of pontoon mounted caisson gates, and procurement of dredger, tug boat, and motor boats.

The chief minister said the feasibility report recommended complete replacement of all electrical works dedicated feed from WAPDA grid station, 11 KV transformer and main controls switchboard and standby generators.

World Bank country director urged the chief minister to ask his team to submit PC-I of the project so that it could be formally approved. Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem and Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah assured that it will be submitted within fifteen days.