23 March 2004	Tuesday	01 Safar 1425

MIRPURKHAS, March 22: An acute water shortage continued in the command area of the Nara Canal on Monday following a decrease in the water level at the Sukkur Barrage which was badly affecting cotton and other crops.

The Sukkur Barrage chief engineer has restricted water supply to the command area of the canal by 4,040 cusec against the approved supply of 13,600, causing a 70 per cent water shortage.

Executive engineers of the Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar canals have already announced rotation programme by closing 100 distributaries whereas officials operating water supply schemes have started curtailing supply to towns and cities.

Growers are frustrated at the situation which has rendered them unable to prepare land for sowing of cotton and other crops. Expressing concern that the target of cotton-sowing would not be achieved, they urged the irrigation minister and secretary as well as officers concerned to ensure proper supply in the canal. Sources have observed that if the shortage persists for some more weeks, then water would be available only for drinking and not for cultivation.

ENCROACHMENTS: Main roads and footpaths have been encroached upon in different parts of the city with civic agencies turning a blind eye to the gravity of the situation.

It has been noticed that roads and footpaths in certain areas have been encroached upon with the alleged connivance of the police and officials of civic bodies.

The encroachments at M. A. Jinnah, Khisakpura, Sir Syed, Mirwah and Grain Market, Iqbal, Umerkot, Seed Farm, Ring, Colony and Jameel Shaheed roads as well as Hirabad and Gharibabad are leading to traffic jams besides inconvenience to pedestrians.

REMAND: The judicial magistrate-I remanded nine illegal Afghan immigrants to police custody here on Monday. They were arrested by the Satellite Town police in a raid at the Rewachand Garden area who registered a case against them under the Foreigners Act.

ABDUCTION: A Hesco employee has been accused of abducting his sister-in- law and her two minor children. Shaista, wife of Ali Ahmed, lodged an FIR under section 11 and 16 of the Hudood laws with the Town police on Thursday, alleging that his husband had kidnapped her younger sister, Yasmeen, 20, and her two children seven days ago.