The Sindh’s government efforts to strengthen embankments of Rice Canal have been thrown into dustbin by Irrigation Department officials, as tractors were allowed to take sand over their trolleys from base of the canal by breaking stone-pitching carried out to make the embankments strong.
Irrigation engineers pass through this track but have taken no notice of illegal lifting of sand. The stone-pitching work was carried out of taxpayers’ hard earned money but influential people were reportedly allowed to carry sand near Mahotta Regulator and near New Bus Stand because Irrigation Department has taken no action so far against them which proved their utter negligence. The embankments were strengthened to save the people of Larkana from breach as these banks had become very weak and were unable to withstand the pressure of water flow when the water level is rising during Abkalani and flood seasons. The Sindh Government had launched the project of strengthening both side embankments of Dadu Canal and Rice Canal after mega flood of 2010 costing billions of rupees to save the banks from breaches which were expected to occur due to rapid flow of massive quantity of water during paddy-sowing season as well. The influential people are getting sand regularly since long by breaking stone pitching work with the help of heavy machinery such as dumpers, dozers, tractors, tractor trolleys to make way for their vehicles’ movement. These people are alleged to be very influential and their tractor trolleys are in hundreds which have already created nuisance in Larkana because sand is always seen flying in the air which continue to very badly hit health of the residents especially from Rice Canal Bridge to Naundero van stand. Buffaloes have also very seriously damaged the banks of the rice canal apart from creating cleanliness issues in the city but no action has so far been taken against the cattle pan owners to shift them out of the city. Sand is regularly taken worth millions of rupees and there seems nobody to check them showing sheer negligence of irrigation department authorities which has damaged the embankments. Tractor trolleys’ drivers are using city’s roads which have recently been constructed to beautify the city but the district traffic police are also mum as no action has been taken against them who are plying tractor trolleys on commercial basis which also proved that either they are getting financial benefits or those people who are selling sand are very influential. When relevant irrigation department engineers were contacted they refuted the claim at the very outset that sand is being lifted out of rice canal but when they were shown the evidence then told newsmen on condition of anonymity to save their own skin that on the direction of higher authorities these people are carrying sand for which they have also made a path for their vehicles by cutting essential stone-pitching. The residents of Larkana have demanded of higher authorities to stop this illegal practice forthwith to save their lives. They said that tractor trolleys carrying sand have already put their lives in danger which must end now. They said most of the citizens residing in areas near to canal are suffering from ENT, eye and chest problems which they cannot allow anymore.
