KARACHI, Sept 14: In view of the unprecedented water shortage in Sindh, the provincial government, the Abadgar (growers) Board and the Chamber of Agriculture have agreed to an early date for starting crushing so as to save water for Rabi season.

"As per decision, sugar mills will start crushing by October 1 instead of November 1, while sowing for the Rabi season will start from November 1. This will make a huge difference in terms of water saving and timely sowing of wheat," Sindh Irrigation Minister Sardar Nadar Akmal Laghari said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture President Syed Qamar-u-Zaman Shah, former Senator Abdul Majeed Qazi, Irrigation Secretary Ashfaque Memon and others were also present.

The minister said that hardly 6.143 maf water would be available for the Rabi season as compared to 12.869 maf last year. The minister said that recommendations had been formulated in a meeting with the Abadgar Board and the Chamber of Agriculture, which would be presented to the government for taking steps on priority basis.

According to recommendations, the government would be asked to share 50 per cent cost of new tube wells in the private sector, both diesel-powered and electrical, and priority should be given to the areas where shallow and 'Nalka' tube wells were feasible due to small quantity of underground sweet water.

The government would also be requested to increase and ensure regular supply of electricity to public sector tube wells. "All the tube wells under the SCARP scheme would be made operational carrying out repair on war footing," Mr Laghari said.

Referring to a subsidized power tariff in Balochistan, the minister said the federal government would be approached for a 75 per cent subsidy on electricity used for agriculture in Sindh. It has been recommended that an overall per unit rate in Sindh should not be more than Re1. -PPI