World Bank mission visits Sukkur, Guddu Barrages, also visits Indus dolphin rescue centre

SUKKUR: A World Bank mission visited the historic Sukkur and Guddu Barrages to review the rehabilitation work.

The World Bank mission was briefed about the rehabilitation project of Guddu Barrage, adding there was a plan to replace 65 gates of the main barrage and 25 gates of the canals including Ghotki Feeder, Begari Sindh Feeder, and Pat Desert Feeder. The project would also rehabilitate the river banks allowing safe discharge of 1.2 million cusecs water.

The mission also evinced its keen interest in restoration and rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage, which is a monumental place in Sindh and serves as the economic backbone of the country from where seven canals with 1,629 branches and minor canals irrigate over 70 percent of Sindh. As a principal partner, the World Bank had already approved the project and provided financial assistance of USD160 million for replacement and rehabilitation of critical installations, including gates and embankments.

Besides the infrastructure development, the WB mission is also interested to preserve marine life, including rare and endangered species, like Indus Blind dolphin on verge of extinction and their numbers have dropped to 1,419. This rare dolphin is on the WWF Red List. The mission also visited the Indus Dolphin Rescue Centre and the Indus River bed for witnessing the blind dolphins. During the visit, the mission expressed its interest in conservation and management plan for the blind dolphin.