Karachi, October 14, 2022 (PPI-OT):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the online meeting of Irrigation engineers at CM House regarding progress of evacuation of water from all across Sindh. During the online discussion, Mr. Zarif Iqbal khero, Chief engineer Development II, told the CM that water was receding from LBOD Spinal smoothly at about 2-3 decimal a day which would increase as time passed.
He further informed that an speedy evacuation was taking place in Sanghar district especially that of Tando Mithakhan deh as well as in Mirpurkhas apart from Taulka judo which was dependent of further reduction in Spinal drain at RD 295. The CM was told that Tando bago of Badin district would take time to evacuate because of breach in Dhoro Puran.
Zarif Khero informed the forum about the core issue of land acquisition from private owner to connect Tando Jan Mohammad drain to outfall into Dhoro Puran for execution has started but same peoples have approached the court for contempt and subsequently the court has summoned the irrigation officers to appear before court on October 13, 2022.
According to the chief engineer Khero, once again the drain in question won’t be able to evacuate water to provide relief to people of Tando jan Mohammad and adjoining areas. He further told the CM that apart from water way given to Hakro Dhoro to join Dhoro Puran at RD 211, a regulator at RD 261 of Spinal drain has been hoisted which is successfully getting water and Hakro’s gauges at different places are decreasing further regularly.
Evacuation of water: The CM was told that out of 3.92 MA of total area of District Khairpur 141,171 acres were inundated as on 31st August 2022. Up to 15th of September the inundated area reduced to 108,458 acres. Simultaneously on 20th September the inundated are was 101,355 acres and on 25th September, the inundated area was reduced to 99,449 acres.
After the escapes of Rohri Canal were opened, from 25th September to 10th October, the inundated area has now reduced to 61085 acres. Due to enhanced SCARP Project Khairpur was constructed by WAPDA and handed over to Sindh Government in the year 1967.
The basic purpose of this Project was to control water logging through the network of Tubewells and open surface Drains. During the current calamity, the seepage water collection drains have been used to evacuate rain / storm water from District Khairpur.
Taluka Khairpur, Kingri, Gumbat and parts of Taluka KotDiji and Taluka Thari Mir wah have the facility of SCARP Drainage network. Mainly siz Pumping Stations are being used to dispose-off rain storm water into Rohri Main Canal.
District Naushahro Feroze has five Talukas: Kandiaro, Mehrabpur, Bhiria, Naushahro Feroze and Moro. It was pointed out that there was no any existing horizontal drainage network in the District Naushahro Feroze. However the evacuation of rain / flood water was in progress through existing network of 24 Pumping Stations of SCARP Irrigation in different Talukas of District Naushahro Feroze, Beside that, 12 pumping areas have been identified, for evacuation of rain water through pumps in Rohri Main Canal and River Indus, where there is no any drainage network exist.
The CM was told that Shaheed Benazirabad has four Talukas: Nawabshah, Kazi Ahmed, Daur and Sakrand. Major portion of District Viz Taluka Daur, Nawabshah and part of Taluka Sakrand is covered under LBOD drainage network.
Due to non-availability of drainage network, part of Taluka Kazi Ahmed and Sakrand is affected by rain water. The CM was told: a pocket starts from Village Pir Gul Hassan Shah crosses Kazi Ahmed City (Meekaro Dhoro), National Highway, Gohram Mari, Fatoohal Zardari and Sono Dahri comprising 5183 Acres. This rainy water is being disposed off in Indus River through Pumps at 98 Mile SM Bund through 10 Pumps, whereas four Pumps have been installed by District Administration. The CM gave them 25 days deadline for evacuation of water.
The 1625 acres area of Deh Nakur and Dalel Dero, Taluka Sakrand, is under water. This standing rainy water is being disposed of through existing Nakur Pumping Stations of SCARP Irrigation and Dalel Dero Pumping Station out falling in Rohri Main Canal. The CM gave them 25 days for evacuation time. The CM was told that 22 Pumping Stations have been made functional in different areas of District Shaheed Benazirabad which were working day and night to dispose of water.
RBOD: Minister Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro told the chief minister that Water level has reduced along FP Bund ranging from 8.5 ft to 11.5 ft in upper reach of Saifullah and Rice Canal Division. Whereas 5 to 8 ft in lower reach of Southern Dadu Division.
Water level along Suprio has also reduced about 6 to 7 ft and Reduction along MNV at RD-194 is about 4.90 ft, at RD 210 is about 3.5 ft and at RD-346 is about 11.4 ft. Water level has reduced from 7.2 feet to 2 feet along KN Shah to Dadu Road.
Mr Shah was told that on August 31, 2022 an area of about 1,988,919 acres (1.9 M Acre) was under inundation along Right Bank of River Indus and the estimated volume of water was approximately 14 MAF.
As of today (Oct 12) water evacuated about 7.4 MAF into River Indus through Manchhar Lake and cuts in Larkana Sehwan (LS) Bund.
Out of total inundated area of 1,988,919 acres an area of 648035 acres have been evacuated which is about 33 percent of total inundated area on the right bank of Indus. Whereas, out of total approximate volume of 14 MAF, approximately 7.4 MAF has been drained out, which is more than 53 percent.
Balance area of land under water on Right Bank Side as on 10.10.2022 is 1,218,699 acres (1.2 million acres) with average depth of water is equal to 2.75 feet and Total volume of water is 3,351,422 Acre Feet and total volume of water to be evacuated is 3.7 MAF.
The CM decided that the Water in the low lying areas would be evacuated through drainage network of the Right Bank. Mr Shah directed the Irrigation dept to evacuate 85 percent area in the Right Bank of Indus River latest by the end of November.
As an average, there would be 40,000 cusecs discharge per day up till Oct 20 through Manchhar and cuts in Larkana Sehwan (LS) Bund. The Remaining 1,200,000 cusecs discharge at a rate of 30,000 cusecs will take 40 days more to evacuate water from Right Bank. Based on the experience from Flood-2010, remaining water in the area 15% (265,417 Acres) will further take at least one month – December-202.
Action plan for Right Bank: Murad Ali Shah said that water was evacuating by existing drainage network through gravity system till receding the level for further evacuation by pumping stations meant for saline water drainage such as Ghar Pumping Station, Aliwal / Mehar Pumping Station, K.N. Shah Pumping Station, Mirokhan pumping station and Dost Ali Pumping Station.
It may be noted that Committees have been notified by Sindh Government, headed by DCs of concerned districts which would lead the evacuation process with concerned stakeholders- Irrigation, Agriculture, Public Health Engineering and Local Government Departments.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk