December 01, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1428

MIRPURKHAS, Nov 30: Water shortage has caused delay in wheat sowing in the tail-end areas of the Nara Canal and farmers have demanded resumption of proper supply of water into the canal.

Low discharge of water in the canal had caused an acute shortage of water in different areas of Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar districts where land was irrigated through the off-shoots of the Nara Canal, local farmers said.

The irrigation officials said that 8,000 cusecs water was being discharged into the Nara Canal against a demand of 11,000 cusecs and the shortfall had led to decreased water flow in Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar canals.

Meanwhile irrigation authorities have announced water rotation programme in the region, closing dozens of distributaries.

Farmers have expressed concern over acute shortage of water in the region where wheat sowing is continuing in full swing.

Talking to this correspondent, Haji Abdul Ghafoor Mahar, Rais Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Ismail Soomro and other farmers deplored shortage of water in the region and alleged that it was an artificial shortage aimed at forcing the growers to pay bribe to the irrigation officials to receive proper water supply.

FOUNDING DAY: The 40th founding day of the Pakistan People’s Party was observed at the party office here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, district PPP president Haji Noor Hassan Chandio said that the PPP was struggling for the rights of masses since its foundation. Siddique Memon said that masses loved the PPP and Bhutto family.

Ali Akbar Panhwar, Ishaq Narejo, Malik Yaseen, Mir Ali Raza Talpur, Anwar Panhwar and others also spoke on the occasion.