Chinese experts` team visits dyke, canals

LARKANA, March 29: A three-member team of water experts from China, along with the irrigation officials, visited Akil-Aghani dyke of the River Indus, Khirthar Canal and Saifullah Magsi branch (canal) on Tuesday. The superintendent engineer, Khirthar Canal and Saifullah Magsi branch, Shafqat Wadho, told this correspondent that the Chinese experts team, led by Mr Fang, would assess the level of damages caused to the irrigation system during last year`s flood. The federal government, in consultation with the Sindh irrigation department had engaged the team, he said, adding that it would compile its observations which would later be submitted to the Chinese government, an official of the department said. China may extend funding for repair and rehabilitation of damaged systems after submission of report by the experts team, sources said. The superintendent engineer, Larkana dyke division, irrigation depar tment, Abdul Rehman Nizamani, briefed the team members at Akil-Aghani dyke in presence of Noor Mohammed Baloch, the chief resident engineer of a consultancy firm hired by the government of Sindh, Abdul Qadir Palijo, Superintendent Engineer of Kotri Barrage and the focal person of Sindh irrigation department. The team members would visit Manchhar Lake on Wednesday, source said. After visiting canals and the dyke, members of the team also took a round of Mohenjodaro. CANALS CLOSURE: The Sukkur Barrage authorities announced that Dadu Canal and North Western Canal would remain closed from April 1 to 30 for annual maintenance.