May 20, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

NAWABSHAH, May 19: An acute water shortage has hit cotton sowing on 200,000 acres with Nawabshah growers facing heavy financial losses. Dad and Nusrat irrigation divisions are in water rotation schedules for last couple of months.

Growers of four talukas are facing the onslaught as standing sugarcane, banana, and vegetable crops are not being supplied with water. Growers have held several demonstrations demanding irrigation minister and concerned officials to ensure regular water supply but in vain.

General Secretary, Sindh Abadgar Board Nawabshah Chapter Syed Zahid Hussain Shah told Dawn water shortage has artificially been created as there is no such shortage in irrigation system and alleged mismanagement for the shortage. Lack of planning has put growers on stake.

Tail-enders is worst sufferers because of landlords who allegedly procure water from the staff, he lamented – a problem towards which he called the attention of the Sindh government, also.

Information Secretary, Abadgar Board Nawabshah Syed Ali Mohammed Lakhyari said the system is old and branches, minors and canals filled with silt.

He said though the department gets sufficient funds every year for silt cleaning but the work is rarely carried out. The department also does not involve growers’ association into it, he said adding: “Though cotton is a bumper crop of Nawabshah but more than 50 per cent growers are still waiting for water to sow their crop.”

Meanwhile growers of Dhoronaro Minor of Nusrat Irrigation Division took out a rally and held demonstration here on Monday. They said there is no water in Dhoronaro minor since last three months.

Meanwhile, a 50-ft wide breach occurred in RD-2 of James Minor, Nusrat Irrigation Division near Daur on Monday. The breach inundated standing crop on over 50 acres. Officials of Nusrat Irrigation Division plugged the breach with the help of villagers.