LARKANA: After monsoon rains, water is constantly rising in Indus River flow which has become very rapid due to which it is constantly eroding the embankments and causing unrest among the residents of all nearby villages.
A visit by a team of journalists to Moria Loop Bund on Friday morning showed that huge mud bars were constantly falling into the Indus River. The villagers said that within last two days 120 ft. earth has been taken away by mighty Indus and the loop bund is now just 60 ft. away. They also complained against corruption by the contractor and irrigation department officials as no proper strengthening work has been done timely ahead of the monsoons. The villagers of Bachal Bhutto and Wahid Bux Agani villages have erected red flags showing emergency like situation. Muhammad Ali Agani, Haneef Bhutto, Ali Hassan Agani, Shahzado Agani, Rabail Agani, Iqbal Agani, Qadan Bhutto, Sharif Bhutto and others also held protest demonstration on finding the media team amongst them. They complained that they are not satisfied from the work which was carried out by the irrigation department officers through their contractor because, according to them, stone pitching work was to be carried out first and then apron should have been constructed.
They alleged that stones have been laid up to 50 ft length instead of 80 ft. They said that after digging up to 12 ft. deep, stones should have been filled up to 6 ft. but now they have filled stones only up to 3 ft deep which will be washed away very soon by the swift flow of water hence tax-payer’s money will also be swept away, adding the work has been stopped twelve days ago and the contractor has left the site. They said that they along with their kids are passing sleepless nights due to mighty noises of Indus water and falling of huge bars into the water which create lot of dreaded voices. They demanded that construction of spurs in Indus so that it could not hit the bund directly and to save the dykes. A notable of Agani village Farhan Agani said that construction of apron is not for strengthening the bund but it is better for smooth flow of water. He said apron or stone pitching will be useless where water is hitting, therefore, he added, they are worried that water will constantly erode which will not only make dyke very weak but also seriously harm it.
He feared that if flood-like situation surfaced then not only all nearby villages will be inundated but Garhi Khuda Bux, Naundero, Larkana and other big cities and towns will also be not safe. He said that these people are residing in riverine areas since decades and their bread-earning is also with Indus River hence their apprehensions are correct and must be taken seriously. He said that he has talked to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah & Faryal Talpur who have assured that three aprons will be constructed on the relevant spot. He further said until & unless erosion is not stopped then flood cannot be ruled out here for which he demanded immediate inspection by irrigation engineers to take all preventive measures beforehand to save the populace and the bund from total damage.
