May 14, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1427

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SUKKUR, May 13: About 105,000 cusecs water released from Chasma on Saturday would reach the Sukkur barrage on the midnight of May 18 and 19.

Sources in the Sindh irrigation department told Dawn that at present there was more than 60 per cent water shortage in Sindh.

They said the situation would only ease after the fresh release of water for Sindh and Balochistan because 58,000 cusecs water earlier released from Chasma on April 30 had not reached the Sukkur barrage.

According to the sources, in the second week of May there should be 40,100 cusecs water at the Sukkur barrage while at present it was 32,000 cusecs, showing a shortfall of 8,000 cusecs.

The three canals of the Sukkur barrage — Khirthar, Rice and Dadu — are closed while the remaining four are being supplied water less than indent due to which early Kharif crops are badly affected.

At present, about 37 per cent shortage was prevailing at the Sukkur barrage.

There was 90 per cent shortage at the Guddu barrage and 78 per cent shortage at the Kotri barrage.

On Saturday, upstream at the Guddu barrage was recorded 41,100 cusecs and downstream was 40,100 cusecs.

The Sukkur barrage upstream was 33,800 cusecs and downstream remained 8,010 cusecs.

The Kotri barrage upstream was 3,300 cusecs.

No water is being released below Kotri.

Sources said that out of three off-taking canals of the Guddu barrage the Pat Feeder supplying water to Balochistan was reopened on Thursday.

The canal is being supplied with 1,068 cusecs of water instead of its indent 7,700 cusecs, raising the shortage to 90 per cent.

Two other canals – the Ghotki and the PS Feeder — are closed.

Sources said that about 58,000 cusecs water released from Chasma on April 30 is expected to reach at the Guddu barrage on Sunday (today) after which the water level at the Guddu may reach up to 50,000 or 60,000 cusecs.

Ghotki LG polls: Security in the Ghotki district has been enhanced for holding local government elections in union councils on Sunday, following the rejection of a People’s Party petition against the May 14th polls.

Sukkur division People’s Party president Jam Saifullah Dharejo had filed a review appeal in the Supreme Court against the holding of local government elections on May 14. However, the apex court rejected the appeal and ordered election on May 14.

Following the decision, election activities resumed in the district, and corner meetings and gathering were held in various villages and towns.

Leaders of different parties, including Maulvi Abdul Qayoom Halejvi and Maulana Ishaq Leghari of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Hafiz Sadiq Samejo of the PML-N, former Sindh chief minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, State Minister Raja Khan Mahar, Jam Ikram Dharejo, State Minister Khalid Ahmed Lund, Sardar Rahim Bux Bozdar of the PML-F and others were visiting different villages and towns to motivate the people to vote for them.

Around 2,500 policemen have been deployed at 454 polling stations in the district while ballot boxes, ballot papers and other material have been handed over to the polling staff by the returning officer.

Some 4,69,125 registered voters will exercise their right to vote in 40 union councils where 1,097 candidates are contesting the elections, 111 pairs are contesting for nazims and naib nazims, 437 for general councillors (male), 158 general councillors (Female), 193 Hari (male), 122 Hari (female), and 76 minority councillors were in the arena.

The Election Commission has established 454 polling stations.

KILLED: A young man and a girl were gunned down on the pretext of karo-kari in village Din Mohammad Golo, in the jurisdiction of “B” Section Police Station Kandhkot, here on Friday night.

According to reports, unknown armed persons shot dead Hakim Ali Golo, 30, and Nasiba, 19, and fled.

Area people claimed that the double murder was the result of the karo-kari.