By Rehan Khan Khushik

Karachi

The Project Management Office (PMO) Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP) Irrigation department, Government of Sindh has signed contract agreement for Rehabilitation and Modernization of Sukkur Barrage, with a Chinese Company.

The Restoration and Upgradation of Sukkur Barrage Contract was signed on October 24, 2022, at PMO-SBIP office in Karachi with China Road & Bridge Corporation – Hubei Shuizong Water Resources and Hydropower Construction Co. Ltd. – A joint venture- CRBC-HBSZ (JV).

The worth of the accepted contract is Rs.17.07 billion which includes rehabilitation of structure and repairs in stone masonry of superstructure and RCC arches, replacement of main barrage gates and hoisting system to work without counterweights, RCC Jacketing of piers in Canal Head Regulators and foundation overlay concrete, temporary river training works/ coffer dams for isolation of a group of spans for foundation physical inspection/ repairs, and testing for weakness, scour protection works at barrage and off taking canals, replacement of all gates in canal head regulators, replacement of gate lifting motors/ electrical system for all barrage and canal head regulator gates, installation of new 11/0.4 kV transformers and standby generators, instrumentation and monitoring system with automatic data acquisition system, CCTV and telecommunication system, construction of new buildings, laboratories, workshop and offices renovation with matching of monumental and aesthetic architectural aspects.

Project Director, PMO-SBIP, Ghulam Muhiudin Mughal and Mr. Lyu Ming, Authorized representative of the Joint Venture signed the agreement on behalf of Sindh Irrigation Department and the JV respectively. The contract signing ceremony was witnessed by Procurement Director SBIP Abdur Razzaq Memon, and Xiao Zhangang, Technical Officer SBIP Imran Aziz Tunio, Finance Manager SBIP Abdul Ghafoor Chandio, Deputy Project Director SBIP Sajid Bhutto, Assistant Director Procurement SBIP Faraz Noonari, Assistant Engineer Farhana Shams, Nazir Lashari, Sharyar and Khadim Sufi of Mott MacDonald consultant, and contractor representative.

Addressing to the ceremony, Ghulam Muhiudin Mughal PD PMO SBIPs congratulated the Consultant of the project Mott MacDonald Ltd., UK based company, PMO-SBIP team and contractor CRBC-HBSZ (JV), and said that today’s event is a good sign for the restoration and Up-gradation of the much-needed barrage in Sindh. He added that Sukkur Barrage is a remarkable project to ensure water, agriculture and flood protection in Sindh.

Speaking on the occasion, Director Procurement Abdur Razzaq Memon said that PMO-SBIP has already awarded contract of Rs.95.00 million, for consulting services of the project to Mott MacDonald Ltd. and associated with MM Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. The consultancy agreement includes project implementation, construction supervision, contract management, administration, and support in implementation of environmental and social management plan, project management support, and role as Engineer he said.

Technical Officer PMO-SBIP Imran Aziz Tunio said the SBIP is a vital project for Sindh and would help address the issue of sedimentation and irrigation water regulation to the Sindh and economic hub of Pakistan. He said that upgradation of Sukkur Barrage will commence in a few weeks. Tunio expressed the hope that the project would be completed within the timeline to ensure its benefits to the people at the earliest.

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The number of Indus Blind Dolphins has increased from 172 to 1490 during the period from 1972 to 2019 – Sindh officials   

By Rehan Ali Khan

Sukkur

An expert of World Bank has called for yearly survey of Indus Blind Dolphins and taking special care for their protection and conservation, being the endangered species.

Mr. Takeaki Sato, an international Senior Environmental Specialist of the World Bank held meeting with Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP) officers and direct stakeholders and consultants and discussed the matters related to protection and conservation of Indus Blind Dolphins in River Indus between the reaches of Guddu to Sukkur Barrages, during his two-day visit.

The world bank team led by Takeaki Sato, an international and Senior Environmental Specialist, Imran ul Haq, Senior Social Development Specialist and consultant, Ibad Ur Rehman visited the Sukkur Barrage and watched the Indus Blind Dolphins at up and down streams of Sukkur Barrage.

Consultants of social safeguards Jibran Kidwai and Jan Mohammad Samo of Sindh Barrages Improvement Project briefed on the Indus Blind Dolphins and other species and their protections at office of the executive engineer of Sukkur Barrage.

The SBIP – Sindh Project team was led by Deputy Project Director Sajid Ali Bhutto and other consultants.

WB Team and officers of SBIP also visited ongoing work of rehabilitation and modernization of Sukkur barrage. The work on gates of main barrage and canals is in progress.

The WB team also discussed the safety and environment issues of the barrages.

On that occasion, Takeaki Sato said that it needs to pay proper attention to the protection of Indus blind Dolphins in River Indus.

Takeaki Sato highlighted the three main and important points – Arrangements to avoid dolphin access to nearest working site at Barrages like Sukkur and Guddu barrages, Dolphin rescue system establishment in the SBIP project and conducting training on Dolphin conservation.

It was informed that Sindh Wildlife Department during a survey had found 132 Indus Dolphin in 1972 while 1490 were found in 2019 which shows continuous growth of Indus Dolphin in Guddu to Sukkur barrage areas.

The WB expert urged that Indus Dolphin surveys must be carried out on a yearly basis because this species is rare and endangered at Global level.

It was discussed that different location downstream Sukkur barrage would affect not only endangered Dolphins but also fish species as well as other aquatic lives.

Deputy Project Director Sajid Ali Bhutto briefed the WB team about Indus Blind Dolphins, and said that SBIP has released funds to Wildlife Department related to protection of Indus Blind Dolphins. He said that with funds of Indus Blind Dolphins, the wildlife department has protected 21 stranded Indus Blind Dolphins from canals soon as water was reduced in canals and lives of Indus Blind Dolphins were at stake.

The World Bank mission also visited Guddu barrage and observed ongoing replacement of gates of main barrage and canals and also observed water situation.

During 2-day visit, the WB team also met Project Director Ghulam Mohi u Ddin Mughal.

It was decided to follow all plans and recommendations of the WB team following the conservation of Indus Blind Dolphins and other species.

Meanwhile, Implementation Support Mission of World Bank, led by Task Team Leader, Francois Onimus also held the meeting with SBIP Sindh at ANG Abbasi Committee room of Project Coordination Monitoring Unit of Planning and development department to review and monitor the progress of Guddu and Sukkur Barrage Rehabilitation and modernization Project.

Francois Onimus also discussed the establishment of a BMU-Barrage Management Unit.

CRE Guddu Barrage Chris Hall, Project Director SBIP Ghulam Mohi u ddin Mughal, Superintendent Engineer Abdul Razak Memon, Imran Aziz Tunio technical officer SBIP and Iqbal Palejo director Mechanical of SBIP, deputy director environment SBIP  Dr. Ali Asghar Mahesar, Izhar Leghari assistant director procurement SBIP  and Ehsan Leghari, Fareeha Mahar, Mohammad Aslam Ansari, Ms Faria Uqaili, Dr. Marium Minhas  of Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit of Planning and development department government of Sindh attended the meeting.

Francois Onimus also held a meeting with minister irrigation Sindh Jam Khan Shoro and secretary irrigation Sindh Sohail Ahmed Qureshi on water policy and Sindh Barrages Improvement Project.

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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.

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