KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed Irrigation department to conduct a thorough inquiry into illegal water outlets taken out from the system of Nara Canal.
“Please manage proper water distribution on the entire system,” he said, presiding over a meeting on water shortages, particularly on Nara canal system, at the CM House.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Mir Munawar Talpur, Nawab Yousuf Talpur, provincial ministers Dr Sikandar Mendhro, Imdad Pitafi, MPAs Ali Mardan Shah, Mir Hayat Talpur, Secretary Irrigation Syed Jamal Shah and others. MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur pointed out that there were some illegal water courses on Jamrao Canal. On this the chief minister said it was not acceptable at all. He directed Irrigation Secretary to conduct a thorough inquiry and take strict action if any illegal watercourse is detected and report him.
Secretary Irrigation Syed Jamal Shah said that the Nara Canal System can be divided into two sections: the Upper-Nara which is located between Sukkur Barrage and Jamrao Weir and it is 115 miles long and Lower Nara that is below Jamrao Weir that is 105 miles long. The total length of Nara Canal is 220 miles with a designed capacity of 13602 cusecs.
In the Nara canal system; there are six other canals such as Upper Nara, Lower Nara, Jamrao Canal, Twin Jamrao Canal, Mithrao Canal, Khipro Canal. It may be noted that the Nara Canal system came to maturity with the commissioning of the Sukkur Barrage in 1932, regulating the flow of Indus River and supply channels through the bed of Upper Nara. This enabled perennial irrigation of dry crops, cotton and wheat, in a large part of Nara Canal Command. Rice cultivation was in the main area designated for non-perennial irrigation at the tail of the Eastern Nara Canal.
Before the construction of Sukkur Barrage the Nara Canal was an inundation channel, which follows the course of old Hakro River that ceased to flow in the 19th century. The secretary said that the Nara Canal Area Water Board has made serious efforts for equitable distribution of water which include: recording tail-gauges of each canal twice a day; the executive engineers have also been instructed to keep strict watch over the direct outlets. Rotation programme has also been launched to provide water in the entire system. The chief minister directed Jamal Shah to ensure sagacious water distribution so that the growers of entire Nara Canal system could get water.
