Irrigation dept embezzles funds for Kotri Barrage repair, canals cleaning

KARACHI: The Irrigation Department embezzled funds for the repair and maintenance of the doorways of the Kotri Barrage and the cleaning of canals for seven divisions, while no action has been taken by the Sindh government.

Despite the presence of machinery and workforce, the irrigation department issues contracts allegedly to receive commissions. The Sindh government had allocated Rs100 million for the cleaning and maintenance of doorways of the Kotri Barrage and canals in seven divisions.

The work was suspended in March due to the lockdown over the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. In June, it was revealed that executive engineers of Mirpur Sarkro, Thatta, Sujawal, Kalri Baghar, Upper and Lower Panihari divisions issued the amount to a private company without the work being done.

A joint statement by General Secretary Kotri Barrage Feeder Division Mechanical Employees Union Ashraf Kolachi and Rafiq Qazi stated the Sindh government is involved in massive corruption in the cleaning and maintenance repair work of Kotri Barrage.

They said the repair work was being ignored throughout the year despite the presence of heavy machinery, transport and skilled manpower. They revealed that only five percent of work was done in five districts while a massive loss was caused to the national exchequer.

The demanded that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should probe the misuse of funds in the seven divisions or else they will approach the courts.