May 11, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429

MUZAFFARGARH, May 10: The district has to pay a high cost for its non-representation in either federal or provincial cabinet as it has been denied its water share in the Muzaffargarh Canal.

The Dera Ghazi Khan Canal, being taken out from the Taunsa Barrage, however, runs to its capacity as it irrigates the hometown of Chief Minister Dost Muhammad Khosa, Irrigation Department sources reveals to Dawn.

Farmers here in Muzaffargarh are facing water shortage which will affect the sowing of the cotton crop. The Muzaffargarh Canal, which irrigates 800,000 acres in the district, has not been released water to its capacity.

Earlier, Irrigation Department officials released partial supply to the Muzaffargarh Canal, just enough to fill Thal Minor that irrigates the lands of ex-servicemen and high officials.

After the media highlighted the discrimination, the department pulled up the gates of the minor and stopped water supply to the minor. Now, water is flowing at too low level to be supplied to minors.

Viewing the government’s pathetic attitude, growers are avenging the government by refusing to sell their yield to the Punjab Food Department. They have many private buyers and traders from the NWFP who are offering more rates to farmers than those of the government.

A sub-divisional officer, on the condition of anonymity, said as there was shortage of water in the Indus, the department had released only 1,500 cusec to the Muzaffargarh Canal and 3,500 cusec to the DG Khan Canal.

He said as the DG Khan Canal irrigated the lands of the chief minister, the department had to release appropriate supply into the canal.

He claimed more water would be released into to Muzaffargarh Canal next week.