cKutcha area under waterc

cBy Friday afternoon the upstream flow at the Kotri barrage, the last controlling point of the
Indus River, ranged between 216,161 and 196,856 cusecs. Barrage authorities were bracing
for a super flood of 800,000- 850,000 cusecs.

Kotri barrage chief engineer Manzoor Sheikh said no engineer could certify anything about
the structure of any barrage but he was confident that the Kotri barrage would not only
withstand pressure of flood as per designed capacity ± 875,000 cusecs ± but would pass
more than that.

He added that everyone apprehended threat to the Sukkur barrage but it too weathered
flood pressure of more than its designed discharge. He said that the Kotri barrage¶s
structure was fully inspected during its annual closure and he was personally satisfied with
its condition.

In view of persistent rising trend of flood in Indus in the upper reaches, the Indus River
authorities in Sindh might forcibly shift people from katcha area to save their lives. The
Sukkur barrage has so far withstood a flow of 1,130,995 cusecs on Aug 11 against its
designed capacity of 900,000 cusecs which was reduced from 1.5 million cusecs in 1945
when ten of its gates were closed. It was built in 1932 with 66 gates.

The Kotri barrage has a capacity of 875,000 cusecs and it had weathered 981,000 cusecs in
1956; 811,000 cusecs in 1973; 824,000 cusecs in 1994 and 799,000 cusecs in 1995. Now
once again, it has to withstand a super flood of 800,000 to 850,000.

The main embankments on Indus river embankments are in pretty bad shape for a long
time, for there were no floods in recent past with the result that they couldn¶t be soaked.

Sindh ministers and irrigation officials claim that funds were not utilised properly for upkeep
of embankments over the past several years right from Guddu to Kotri barrages. Land
between two banks of river Indus is rich in fertility with heavy yield potential as compared
to commanded area.

Around two million acres exist as katcha land between two bunds of the river. Crops like
wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane and bananas are cultivated on around 450,000 to 500,000
acres by katcha dwellers.

A vast portion of it belongs to forest and Board of Revenue departments of Sindh

government. However, it remains in illegal possession of those who wield power. In some
cases, it is leased out too but for a nominal amount. It was brought under cultivation as
river Indus constantly changed its course historically.

Katcha area land is the first casualty whenever there is a rise in the level of the Indus.
Currently cotton and paddy of kharif crops are being grown but these have been submerged
under water. The fate of villages located there is no different as gushing water has washed
away bunds raised around them.

According to Chairman Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Ghulam Ali Shah
Pasha 1.5 million people are believed to have been displaced while 20,000 to 25,000
villages both in katcha and settled areas are inundated. ³A correct evaluation of losses will
be made after the situation is normalises´, he said.

After Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and southern Punjab, the situation in Sindh seems to be turning
into a major humanitarian crisis. So far Ghauspur and Karumpur towns in Kashmore district
and Thul taluka of Jacobabad district are completely submerged, taking toll of people too.
Jacobabad district is facing threat of inundation.

Floods hit property of villagers besides livestock, a major source of their livelihood. Villagers
are still stranded in many places. Those who are out of harm¶s way have subsequently
ended up as victims of homelessness. They are now reaching areas close to Karachi,
Hyderabad and Bhitshah in Matiari district to seek help from government. However, another
challenge the authorities face is when water will recede as post flood situation always has
potential threat of outbreak of epidemics. Given poor health infrastructure it remains a
gigantic task for the agencies to cater to health needs of flood victims.

Per acre yield of katcha land is high and according to Abdul Majeed Nizamani of Sindh
Abadgar Board if an average grower having land in command area gets 600 to 700 maunds
of cane per acre, his counterpart of katcha land will have 1000 maund per acre. He predicts
a drop in production of cotton bales by 0.9-1.2 million that was four million last year in
Sindh. Paddy production would be affected too because of water shortage, late sowing and
current floods. Last year¶s paddy production was 2.4 million ton but this year it will not be
more than 1.8 million tons, he saidc