flood report changes - Punjab

The Indus is bigger then any river in Europe…This was the river which Alexander 1

crossed with his army, and so entered India.

CHAPTER 6

LMB OF GUDDU BARRAGE CAUSING DAMAGE IN PUNJAB

1. INTRODUCTION

22. LMB OF GUDDU BARRAGE CAUSING DAMAGE IN PUNJAB

1.1. A portion of the LMB of Guddu Barrage extends into Punjab. Any damage to the said LMB affects the residents of District Rahim Yar Khan (Bhong City) as happened in the recent floods. We therefore felt it necessary to inquiry into the mechanism of supervision of the said LMB and the level of coordination and understanding between I & P Departments of Punjab and Sind.

2.1. Left Marginal Bund is an integral part of Guddu Barrage and falls within the jurisdiction of Irrigation & Power Department, Government of Sindh. LMB from miles No.6-16 (10 Miles) is located in Province of Punjab. However, the entire LMB 0-16 miles is maintained and managed by the Irrigation & Power Department, Sindh. During exceptional high flood of August 2010 LMB was breached at the following locations:-

2.2. Breaches of LMB Sr. No.1 to Sr. No.4 were closed by Irrigation & Power Department, Government of Sindh and breach which occurred on 8.8.2010 opposite Bhong Town at 13 mile & 1 Furlong were closed by the Irrigation & Power Department, Government of Punjab.

1 Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri, c. 145 CE2 Mark 122

260

S. No. Location / RD Detail of Breach

1 9 mile 6 furlong of LMB 110 feet





The Indus is bigger then any river in Europe…This was the river which Alexander 1

crossed with his army, and so entered India.

CHAPTER 6

LMB OF GUDDU BARRAGE CAUSING DAMAGE IN PUNJAB

1. INTRODUCTION

22. LMB OF GUDDU BARRAGE CAUSING DAMAGE IN PUNJAB

1.1. A portion of the LMB of Guddu Barrage extends into Punjab. Any damage to the said LMB affects the residents of District Rahim Yar Khan (Bhong City) as happened in the recent floods. We therefore felt it necessary to inquiry into the mechanism of supervision of the said LMB and the level of coordination and understanding between I & P Departments of Punjab and Sind.

2.1. Left Marginal Bund is an integral part of Guddu Barrage and falls within the jurisdiction of Irrigation & Power Department, Government of Sindh. LMB from miles No.6-16 (10 Miles) is located in Province of Punjab. However, the entire LMB 0-16 miles is maintained and managed by the Irrigation & Power Department, Sindh. During exceptional high flood of August 2010 LMB was breached at the following locations:-

2.2. Breaches of LMB Sr. No.1 to Sr. No.4 were closed by Irrigation & Power Department, Government of Sindh and breach which occurred on 8.8.2010 opposite Bhong Town at 13 mile & 1 Furlong were closed by the Irrigation & Power Department, Government of Punjab.


260

S. No. Location / RD Detail of Breach






262 145263


2.3. The flood flow from these breaches affected the population areas of R.Y. Khan District. The flood entered Bhong Town and also Bhong Distributory System. The flood water inundated large area and damaged villages, crops and other infrastructure of Tehsil Sadiqabad of District Rahim Yar Khan. The flood water also affected Karachi – Lahore National High Way thereby disrupting the flow of traffic. Vide direction of the Secretary, Irrigation & Power Department, Government of the Punjab dated 16.08.2010 the breach in the LMB at 13 mile 1 furlong was closed by the Chief Engineer Bahawalpur. Total

were inundated due to the said flood water.33,345

Acres

REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL FLOOD INQUIRY TRIBUNAL, 2010 CHAPTER 6CHAPTER 6 REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL FLOOD INQUIRY TRIBUNAL, 2010

262 145263


2.3. The flood flow from these breaches affected the population areas of R.Y. Khan District. The flood entered Bhong Town and also Bhong Distributory System. The flood water inundated large area and damaged villages, crops and other infrastructure of Tehsil Sadiqabad of District Rahim Yar Khan. The flood water also affected Karachi – Lahore National High Way thereby disrupting the flow of traffic. Vide direction of the Secretary, Irrigation & Power Department, Government of the Punjab dated 16.08.2010 the breach in the LMB at 13 mile 1 furlong was closed by the Chief Engineer Bahawalpur. Total

were inundated due to the said flood water.33,345

Acres


264 145265

3 Mark 294 Mark-29

2.4. Brief detail of the flood as given by the Chief Engineer, Bahawalpur Irrigation Zone is as follows:-

· High flood was received on 31.07.2010 at Chachran Town and gauge was 10.20 ft. with the discharge of 8 lac cusecs.

· On 2.8.2010 gauge was 11.5 ft with discharge of 10 lac cusecs;· On 3.8.2010 the flood turned into exceptional high flood with gauge at

Chachran 12.6 ft with the discharge of 12 lac cusecs.

2.5. Finally, the reduction in flood was observed from 10.08.2010 to 12.08.2010. The flood rose again on 13.08.2010 and remained up till 23.08.2010 in exceptional high flood position. Later on the flood subsided and it became normal on 6.9.2010. Chachran gauge reached its highest at 14.6 feet on 07.08.2010.

2.6.

32.7. Chief Engineer, Irrigation Gudu Barrage Region Sukkur has submitted the Flood

4Report, 2010 wherein following facts have been highlighted:-

2.7.1. At Gudu Barrage the normal flood was upto 18.07.2010. The river was in low flood from 19.07.2010 to 03.08.2010, then it entered in medium flood from 3.8.2010 to 04.08.2010. It remained in high flood level from 04.08.2010 to 05.08.2010 and crossed in very high and super flood stage on the same day i.e., on 5.8.2010. The river discharge of super flood on 05.08.2010 was recorded at 12:00 mid night to 20.08.2010 at 04:00 p.m. with maximum 1st peak of 11,48,738 cusecs on 08.08.2010 at 11:00 a.m. and 2nd peak of 10,76,728 cusecs on 16.08.2010 at 06:00 p.m. After 20th August 2010 the flood slowly subsided.

2.8. The contribution of Hill Torrents of Sulaiman Ranges below Taunsa Barrage on 8.8.2010 was 240,625 cusecs of eight main hill torrents namely Kaha, Chechar, Vidore, Sori Lund, Sakhi Sarwar, Vehova, Sanghar, Kaura HWT.

2.9. Pond level was kept 1.7 ft below the pond level maintained for regulation in order to accommodate the flood water. Hence no difficulty was experienced at Barrage during super flood and discharge passed smoothly. Upstream left marginal bund falls within Punjab (Districts Rahim Yar Khan & Rajanpur). According to the report since 1999 the river discharge remained less than 6 lac cusecs and main current was on right side, but due to sudden increase in flood discharge upto , the main current was shifted to center and the pressure was increased on left side. The left marginal bund was covered by local Zamindara Bund for several years from mile 8/0 to mile 15/7. It was apprehended that “since the bund is privately constructed, therefore, no river bund specifications have been observed and it is always vulnerable at high discharges and in case of failure the population

BREACH OF LMB AT GUDU BARRAGE (falling within Punjab)

1,148,738 cusecs


5and cultivation contained in that bund will be damaged but also it is very likelihood (sic) that the gushing water may below out the left marginal bund.”

The apprehension became true when Zamindara Bund breached on the night of 6th and 7th August, 2010, water attacked the main LMB in the night of 7th and 8th August, 2010 between 01:00 a.m. to 04:00 a.m. At 13/0 water overtopped the bund which resulted in breach and remaining 04 leaks developed into breaches at mile 9/6, 10/1, 10/4 & 10/5.

2.10. The works on the breaches were started on 12.08.2010 and all the breaches were plugged upto 22.08.2010 during super and very high flood 2010. It has been suggested in the report 2010 that the Zamindara Bund should be removed alongwith illegal pipes. Since LMB is within Bhong city its width should be increased from 20 ft. to 40 ft.

2.11. Formulation of joint strategy between the two provincial flood managers could have lead to better prevention and effective flood fighting. The resulting damage caused in District Rahim Yar Khan could have been be avoided.

2.12. One of the most common omissions that has surfaced during these floods is the absence of wetting channels. The embankments like Jampur Bund have been dry for years and therefore failed to withstand the watery onslaught.

63.1. I & P Department shall immediately take up the issue of removal of Zamindara Bund, the illegal pipes and other ancillary matters with I & P Department, Sind so that the LMB is properly repaired, Zamindara bund and other impediments should be removed before the start of the flood season 2011. This is essential for the security for the people of Rahim Yar Khan and for the safety of their assets.

3.2. I & P Department to keep an active liaison with the I & P Department, Sind as well as with the administration/management of Guddu Barrage so that a joint flood fighting strategy can be developed for the LMB extending into Punjab.

73.3. A mechanism between the two Irrigation Departments to be evolved for the future so that issues get expeditiously resolved.

These apprehensions were communicated to the Secretary, Irrigation & Power Department, Government of the Punjab as well as the Chief Engineers of D.G. Khan Zone and Bahawalpur Zone, but no positive response was received.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS

5 should be “likely”6 before the start of this flood season7 by constituting an Inter provincial committee or panel of Irrigation officers and experts.

264 145265

3 Mark 294 Mark-29

2.4. Brief detail of the flood as given by the Chief Engineer, Bahawalpur Irrigation Zone is as follows:-

· High flood was received on 31.07.2010 at Chachran Town and gauge was 10.20 ft. with the discharge of 8 lac cusecs.

· On 2.8.2010 gauge was 11.5 ft with discharge of 10 lac cusecs;· On 3.8.2010 the flood turned into exceptional high flood with gauge at

Chachran 12.6 ft with the discharge of 12 lac cusecs.

2.5. Finally, the reduction in flood was observed from 10.08.2010 to 12.08.2010. The flood rose again on 13.08.2010 and remained up till 23.08.2010 in exceptional high flood position. Later on the flood subsided and it became normal on 6.9.2010. Chachran gauge reached its highest at 14.6 feet on 07.08.2010.

2.6.

32.7. Chief Engineer, Irrigation Gudu Barrage Region Sukkur has submitted the Flood

4Report, 2010 wherein following facts have been highlighted:-

2.7.1. At Gudu Barrage the normal flood was upto 18.07.2010. The river was in low flood from 19.07.2010 to 03.08.2010, then it entered in medium flood from 3.8.2010 to 04.08.2010. It remained in high flood level from 04.08.2010 to 05.08.2010 and crossed in very high and super flood stage on the same day i.e., on 5.8.2010. The river discharge of super flood on 05.08.2010 was recorded at 12:00 mid night to 20.08.2010 at 04:00 p.m. with maximum 1st peak of 11,48,738 cusecs on 08.08.2010 at 11:00 a.m. and 2nd peak of 10,76,728 cusecs on 16.08.2010 at 06:00 p.m. After 20th August 2010 the flood slowly subsided.

2.8. The contribution of Hill Torrents of Sulaiman Ranges below Taunsa Barrage on 8.8.2010 was 240,625 cusecs of eight main hill torrents namely Kaha, Chechar, Vidore, Sori Lund, Sakhi Sarwar, Vehova, Sanghar, Kaura HWT.

2.9. Pond level was kept 1.7 ft below the pond level maintained for regulation in order to accommodate the flood water. Hence no difficulty was experienced at Barrage during super flood and discharge passed smoothly. Upstream left marginal bund falls within Punjab (Districts Rahim Yar Khan & Rajanpur). According to the report since 1999 the river discharge remained less than 6 lac cusecs and main current was on right side, but due to sudden increase in flood discharge upto , the main current was shifted to center and the pressure was increased on left side. The left marginal bund was covered by local Zamindara Bund for several years from mile 8/0 to mile 15/7. It was apprehended that “since the bund is privately constructed, therefore, no river bund specifications have been observed and it is always vulnerable at high discharges and in case of failure the population

BREACH OF LMB AT GUDU BARRAGE (falling within Punjab)

1,148,738 cusecs


5and cultivation contained in that bund will be damaged but also it is very likelihood (sic) that the gushing water may below out the left marginal bund.”

The apprehension became true when Zamindara Bund breached on the night of 6th and 7th August, 2010, water attacked the main LMB in the night of 7th and 8th August, 2010 between 01:00 a.m. to 04:00 a.m. At 13/0 water overtopped the bund which resulted in breach and remaining 04 leaks developed into breaches at mile 9/6, 10/1, 10/4 & 10/5.

2.10. The works on the breaches were started on 12.08.2010 and all the breaches were plugged upto 22.08.2010 during super and very high flood 2010. It has been suggested in the report 2010 that the Zamindara Bund should be removed alongwith illegal pipes. Since LMB is within Bhong city its width should be increased from 20 ft. to 40 ft.

2.11. Formulation of joint strategy between the two provincial flood managers could have lead to better prevention and effective flood fighting. The resulting damage caused in District Rahim Yar Khan could have been be avoided.

2.12. One of the most common omissions that has surfaced during these floods is the absence of wetting channels. The embankments like Jampur Bund have been dry for years and therefore failed to withstand the watery onslaught.

63.1. I & P Department shall immediately take up the issue of removal of Zamindara Bund, the illegal pipes and other ancillary matters with I & P Department, Sind so that the LMB is properly repaired, Zamindara bund and other impediments should be removed before the start of the flood season 2011. This is essential for the security for the people of Rahim Yar Khan and for the safety of their assets.

3.2. I & P Department to keep an active liaison with the I & P Department, Sind as well as with the administration/management of Guddu Barrage so that a joint flood fighting strategy can be developed for the LMB extending into Punjab.

73.3. A mechanism between the two Irrigation Departments to be evolved for the future so that issues get expeditiously resolved.

These apprehensions were communicated to the Secretary, Irrigation & Power Department, Government of the Punjab as well as the Chief Engineers of D.G. Khan Zone and Bahawalpur Zone, but no positive response was received.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS

5 should be “likely”6 before the start of this flood season7 by constituting an Inter provincial committee or panel of Irrigation officers and experts.

Documents

flood report changes - Punjab