December 22, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 27, 1424

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SUKKUR, Dec 21: There will be 20 per cent water shortage in the canals of the Sukkur barrage in the wake of Kharif season, irrigation experts said on Sunday.

The water level at the Sukkur barrage upstream on Sunday was 26,000 cusecs, and downstream 1,000 cusecs, at the Guddu barrage upstream 33,400 cusecs and downstream 2,900 cusecs and at the Kotri barrage upstream 3,267 cusecs and downstream nil.

The irrigation authorities said six per cent water shortage was recorded at the Sukkur barrage on Sunday evening, 25 per cent at the Kotri barrage while no shortage was recorded at the Gudu barrage.

If the shortage continues, it is likely to affect the Kharif crop.

A senior official of the irrigation department said the canals of the Gudu Barrage would be closed from Dec 25 and those of the Sukkur barrage from Jan 5, 2004, for 15 days for annual repair and maintenance.

The growers have been asked to use water stock as during the period, they would not get water supply from the canals of the Gudu and Sukkur barrages.

Experts said when canals would be reopened, the second watering of wheat crop would not be possible because there would remain 20 per cent shortage of water.

FLOUR CRISIS: Foul-smelling flour is being sold in the markets of Sukkur and Larkana regions at the rate of Rs15 per kg.

Sukkur District Naib Nazim Iqbal Dawood Pakwala, in a statement issued here on Sunday, said the food department was providing infested wheat.

He feared an acute flour shortage might occur in Sukkur and other districts of upper Sindh.

He said he had talked to the Sindh chief minister about the situation and told him the population of five districts of Sukkur region was over seven million and the supply of 300,000 bags of wheat per month was inadequate.

A source said the Punjab government had turned down Sindh’s request for selling wheat to it on the plea they were facing similar shortage in the province.

He said traders had been advised to import wheat from India in the wake of depleting stocks in the country.

The source said the government had shown its willingness to give permission to traders to import wheat from India.

Meanwhile, the PASCO has started wheat supply to Sindh and, according to official sources, about 100,000 bags of wheat have reached Karachi.

When this correspondent contacted the food director, it was learnt he had gone to Islamabad to ensure an increase in the supply of wheat for Sindh.