Desilting Contract for Rice Canal RD-0 to 82+400′ – Package SBIP/S-4
Published on: May 10, 2024.
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KARACHI: SUKKUR. The modernization of Guddu and Sukkur Barrages, funded by the World Bank as a part of the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project, has made significant progress in desilting the Rice Canal. This canal plays a crucial role in irrigating over 481,000 acres of fertile land in the districts of Larkana, Dadu, and Qambar Shahdad Kot in Sindh Province, Pakistan.
The Rice Canal, which originates from the right side of Sukkur Barrage, provides irrigation water exclusively during the Kharif season from May to October for paddy crop cultivation. Stretching over 408 RDs (81.6 miles), the canal has a design carrying capacity of 13,581 cusecs.
The completion of the desilting work brings great relief to the growers in the region, as it eliminates the longstanding issues of water shortages and siltation. Over time, the carrying capacity of the canal had reduced due to the accumulation of silt. However, a feasibility study conducted in 2013-14 paved the way for the rehabilitation and modernization of Sukkur Barrage, ensuring improved irrigation supplies through the Rice Canal.
The desilting work, awarded to M/S Khyber Grace Ltd – MNCC (JV), began on December 11, 2023, as part of the Contact Package SBIP/S-4. The project, with a completion date of April 30, 2024, is now nearly 100% complete, except for the section between RD 82+400′ to 92+600′ of the Rice Canal and the section between RD 0 to 4 of the Warah branch.
The success of the project can be attributed to the diligent efforts of removing stagnant, seepage, and drainage water using dewatering pumps to dry the canal bed. With the restoration of the canal’s design parameters, the flow conditions have significantly improved, ensuring the required irrigation supplies.
Minister of Irrigation, Mr. Jam Khan Shoro, expressed his satisfaction with the desilting work during his visit to the Rice Canal. Accompanied by officials from the Irrigation Department and the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project, he witnessed the progress firsthand. Local growers, including Mohammad Azeem, Ahmed Ali Memon, and Mohammad Saleem Shar, also expressed their satisfaction with the desilting program at the Rice Canal.
The successful completion of the desilting work brings a sigh of relief to the agricultural community in the region, as they can now expect smooth and uninterrupted water flow during the upcoming Kharif seasons. This development is expected to have a positive impact on rice cultivation, benefiting both the growers and the overall agricultural sector in Pakistan.
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