LARKANA: Strengthening of several dykes on an emergency basis has been ordered considering potential risk to human lives, public infrastructure, agricultural lands and urban areas of Larkana and Naudero.

This was stated by Larkana Commissioner Dr Rasheed Masood Pathan following an official communication from the Sukkur Barrage, Right Bank, regarding poor health of different dykes.

The commissioner has written to the irrigation secretary for the start of the dykes` strengthening work without delay.

Sources in the irrigation department said that the commissioner, in his letter, cited the chiefengineer of right bank region which described the condition of several dykes `critical and vulnerable`.

According to the communications, the condition of the first line dyke, SL Bund Mile 40/2 to 40/3, near Naudero and Larkana needs urgent strengthening. The chief engineer, they said, has based his warning on a report prepared by the superintending engineer, western Sindh circle, Larkana.

It was stated that according to the report, the concerned reaches have been severely damaged and posed a serious threat due to the rising level of the Indus River during the ongoing flood season.

Funds have been sought for proper treatment and strengthening of the vulnerable reaches.

`Considering the gravity of the situation and the potential risk to human lives, public infrastructure, agricultural lands and urban areas of Larkana and Naudero, the matter warrants immediate attention,` the letter said, The commissioner and the engineers concerned have called for dealing the matter on a top priority basis. Immediate necessary action for a survey of the sit-uation at the sites was urged to assess the required works needed to be carried out.

In another letter sent to the irrigation secretary, the condition of the LS Bund, Mile 15/0 to 16/1, and the old Abad Bund was described as `alarming` due to severe erosion caused during the previous flood.

The report of the SE, Western Sindh Circle at Larkana reveals that the River Indus continues to remain highly active along the vulnerable reach adjacent to the Mohenjo Daro site and remains dangerously close to the flood protection embankment, posing a significant threat during the monsoon season.

The old Abad Bund also remains highly vulnerable due to continuous erosion, though restoration and emergency protection schemes have been initiated.

Copies of both the letters have been shared with the deputy secretary (staff) to the Sindh chief minister. Recently, the Larkana commissioner visited the vulnerable sites of Moria Loop Bund and old Abad Bund. The SE Western, Jamil Ahmed Sangi, and Executive Engineer, Athar Dhamrah, briefed the commissioner about the situation withthe help of charts and maps. They described the situation at the Moria Loop Bund and old Abad Bund as critical. Standing at the vulnerable point of the Moria Loop Bund, the commissioner asked irrigation officials about the kind of help they required.

They told the commissioner that during last year`s precarious condition, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with the irrigation minister irrigation and experts, had visited the site.

They said that the stone apron, stone pitching along LS Bund Mile 15/0 to 16/1, widening bank and restoration of damaged shank and extension Upstream `T` of the T-head spur at LS Bund Mile 16/1 were initiated. The old Abad Bund Mile 0/0 to 1/3+410 considered to be most vulnerable exists at two miles upstream of KhairpurLarkana Bridge in Taluka Bakrani, Larkana district, the chief engineer`s letter said.

During the last few floods, the river had turned very violent and this caused heavy erosion along its length of 2,700 feet.

The bund should not be left unattended, the commissioner was told.