Sindh Barrages Improvement Project delegations, accompanied by WB Mission holds meeting with Punjab Irrigation officials to learn about SCADA system
Punjab has abolished its Irrigation Development Authority due to poor performance and advises Sindh to do away with SIDA
From Our Correspondent
Lahore
World Bank Mission, consisting of WB Task Team leader Mr. Francois Onimus, World Bank Irrigation Consultant Dr. Charles M Burt, and FAO UN / World Bank Consultant Ahmed Junaid Memon, accompanied by delegation of Sindh Irrigation Department/ Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP), held meeting with Punjab Irrigation authorities and discussed the modernization of barrages and canal system.
The Sindh delegation was led by Chief Engineer /Project Director SBIP Ghulam Mohiuddin Mughal, Deputy Project Director SBIP Sajid Ali Bhutto, Technical Officer SBIP Engineer Imran Aziz Tunio, Deputy Director Environment SBIP Dr. Ali Asghar Mahesar and ten young engineers of Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri barrages of Sindh.
Irrigation officials of Punjab – Secretary Saif Anjum, Ijaz ul Hassan Kashif Head PMO Barrages Punjab, Amir Khan, Chief SPRU Habibullah Bodla Chief Lahore, Raza Abbasi Head PMO Canals and Additional Secretary Admin Irrigation Lahore Tariq Mehmood received the WB Mission and Sindh delegation.
The WB and SBIP delegations discussed the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system installed at barrages, E-Abyana and E-procurement system in Punjab.
Secretary Irrigation Punjab Saif Anjum informed about the development schemes and operation system of barrages and canals.
The World Bank Task Team leader Francois Onimus on this occasion said that this delegation has come for visiting irrigation system of Punjab which has introduced modernization of Barrage and canal systems. “The delegation of senior officers of irrigation Punjab should visit Sindh irrigation system as the interaction of both Punjab and Sindh irrigation officers will be more helpful and informative for enhancing irrigation systems of both provinces,” he suggested.
World Bank Consultant on irrigation Dr. Charles M Burt asked the secretary irrigation Punjab that Abyana collection should be on volumetric basis which received at head regulators of minor distributors instead of flat rates recently introduced by Punjab irrigation department.
Project Director SBIP Ghulam Mohiuddin Mughal told that their visit to Trimmu and Balloki barrages was informative as at both barrages SCADA system has been installed which was a good step for modernization of Punjab irrigation System. He said that the same Telemetry / Automation system may also be installed at barrages of Sindh.
Dr. Ali Asghar Mahesar (PhD irrigation hydraulics) said that they have learned regarding modernization of Trimmu barrage through establishing SCADA and construction of stilling wells which are providing gauge levels without any errors. He further said that they also learned regarding modernization of lower Baridoab canal which was off taking from Balooki canal and automation system installed at Balooki barrage.
Imran Aziz Tunio put the question to secretary irrigation Punjab about ending of functions of Punjab Irrigation Drainage Authority, to which secretary irrigation Punjab said that performance of PIDA was assessed by third party (World Bank) according to which performance of area water boards was poor in Abyana collection as well as distribution of water and also operations and maintenance system in comparison of Canals which work under irrigation department, hence PIDA was abolished and same should be considered by irrigation department government of Sindh.
__________________________
