Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

conceivable contingency that the eight tiers irrigation staff
hierarchy was/is expected to learn and master after on-ground
practice, despite some redundancies. It establishes in no
unambiguous terms that no irrigation professional could afford to
skip awareness of detailed guidelines contained therein, except at a
grave risk, to their respective charge and trust, as indeed was the
case during the 2010 Flood season. Examination of the Bund
Manual shows that it is a virtual ‘Constitution’ or ‘Bible’ for all
irrigation professionals and staff, except perhaps those assigned to
administer it by way of supervision, guidance and monitoring, as
they failed to maintain the bunds at specified levels. Such
omissions to keep the bunds in proper state defied justification as
well as logic of having to maintain or publish it at tax –payers cost!
Chapters II, V, IX X, XI, XII & Appendix IV and its Annexes of the
Manual also cited in Para 43 of the SJC report [page 69-164]
reproduced verbatim details from it. Just to capture the broad
headings of the Manual [the figures in parenthesis denote para nos
of the Manual] will help understand the framework under which
bunds are to be maintained and repaired before flood season:-
i) Chapter I contains definitions of various terms employed in
the Manual.
ii) Its Chapter II contains purpose and objects for creations of
Indus River Commission in 1901: As the apex policy &
oversight body while remaining Chapters deal with specific
technical details, guidelines and operational instructions for
the eight tiers of irrigation hierarchy with Chief Engineers at
the top and Beldar/ Muqadam at the bottom.
iii) Chapter V contains technical information on the Design
relevant of New Bunds and Loop Bunds at construction
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