Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair during the course of briefing specially asked the FWO authorities and the Consultants to also deal with the long-term planning of the rehabilitation of Sukkur barrage, to increase its life.
He said, President Pervez Musharraf had adopted a very bold and realistic approach to resolve country's water problem and the day is not far, he contended to over-come this problem.
He remarked that God forbid, had there been a havoc to Sukkur barrage, it would have devastated the agriculture economy of entire Sindh. He added that Sukkur barrage was the heart of Sindh, and we would save and secure it at any cost.
He directed FWO authorities and the Consultants to ensure that no such damage occurred again to the barrage, to which they are being engaged for rehabilitation.
Secretary Irrigation Sindh, Ishfaq Memon appreciating the committed services of FWO, informed Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair that he found no words to complement the FWO personnel, who are accomplishing their task quite ahead of the schedule. He was confident that they would finish off the work much before the deadline of April 15, 2003.
Earlier, Director General (DG) FWO, Major General Shahid Naaz an his briefing through charts and slides, told Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair that the work will be completed before April 15.
He said that with the induction of FWO Task Force the work was in rapid progress including the completion of upstream cofferdam, while major work on the other downstream cofferdam was likely to be completed very soon.
He also informed Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair that the P.C-I of the work had been approved by the federal government, which was estimated Rs 887.665 million and the planning and implementation of the project was headed by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission.
The FWO Task Force, Major General Shahid said, was headed by Brigadier Javed Ashraf Bajwa, and some 750 personnel including 30 uniformed men were engaged in the day-in and day-out rehabilitation task of the barrage.
He also briefed the Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair on the organisational set-up, work methodology, scope of work, dredging, de-watering and other technical aspects of the rehabilitation.
He informed Mohammad Zubair that the cofferdams as well as 60 Tubewells were a part of the task, for drying and sucking the river water, after which sheet-pilings are become easy at the Bay No.1 and 2 of right bank scouring sluice pocket in upstream of Sukkur barrage.
He also gave a brief history about the identification of the scour hole, which was done in January, 2004 after which some work was done by irrigation department, but as the score hole was going to increase by the passage of time. However, later on the request of Sindh government, the task was handed over to FWO, which the DG said, "has been accepted as a challenge.
He also complemented the Wapda authorities for installing five transformers of 200 KV at the barrage site for de-watering the pond of Bay No.1 and 2 by running 60 tube-wells round the clock, on upstream and downstream area of the barrage and 53 of them were being used for dc-watering the area to enable the laying of sheet piles, and also to pave the way for the sub-surface water to dry.
He said that the tail channels are being repaired now for the breach as the water flow has been closed in all 7 canals of right and left banks of Sukkur barrage from January 1, 2005 and will be reopened within a few days.
On this occasion, Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair complemented the FWO personnel for what he called "a gigantic task of vital national importance" in view of the economic impact of Sukkur barrage on the economy of Sindh as well as Pakistan.
He also asked the DG FWO and the Consultants, for taking long-term measures also, on which he was informed that this aspect will also be given due importance after the completion of rehabilitation, and involvement of foreign funding under NDP was also hinted by them.
Later, Lieutenant General Zubair accompanied by Secretary Irrigation Sindh Ishfaq Memon and other officials of FWO Task Force, visited the site of barrage on the up-stream and downstream area.
Zubair later along with Secretary Irrigation Sindh Ishfaq Memon, DG FWO Major General Shahid Niaz, Brigadier Javed Ashraf Bajwa, Commander Repair Works Sukkur Barrage and others visited the site of Ruk Link canal project.
He was informed by the FWO officials that construction of Ruk Link canal project was started on December 6, 2004 and the date of its completion was scheduled as January 21, 2005 but with the blessing of Almighty Allah and committed services and efforts on January 15, 2005 the project reached its end before the commenced date.
Also present at the briefing and site visitation were Colonel Khalid Basheer, Major Raheel, Chief Engineer Sukkur barrage Mohammad Nawaz, Chief Engineer Gudu barrage Nazir Junejo, Superintendent Engineer Irrigation Haroon Memon and other concerned officials.
Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair appreciated the services of FWO and irrigation personnel while visiting the site of Ruk Link canal project and afterwards he along with FWO and Irrigation officials took the lunch.