May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

KARACHI, May 22: Water flow to major Sindh canals may improve after a week as water discharge in Tarbela and other dams increased by 20,000 cusecs this week, sources at the irrigation department said on Thursday.

They said at present the province was getting 46,000 cusecs, which is half of its total requirement of 80,000 cusecs.

Water discharge at Taunsa on Wednesday increased to 115,000 cusecs against 95,000 cusecs earlier. Water discharge at Guddu also increased to 49,357 cusecs on Wednesday against 46,164 cusecs earlier. It is likely to increase as water released from Taunsa reaches Guddu in five to six days after which it is released to Sukkur and Kotri barrages.

The sources further said that top priority of the irrigation department was to supply water to cotton-fields which are at the sowing stage now. However, Rice Canal has temporarily been closed to divert water for cotton sowing.

The sources pointed out that it takes time for normal flow of water in the River Indus as water released first spreads to cover the large dry bed which also absorbs water causing loss of water.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Sobhago Khan Jatoi told Dawn that the department had urged the irrigation people to release water in the Left Bank canals, which supply to the rice fields. Supply is also needed in Right Bank canals for cotton sowing.He said in view of water shortage the ministry had stepped up work on schemes to install sprinklers, tube-wells, and drip irrigation system. These systems are being provided to the growers on 80 per cent subsidy while farmers would have to pay only 20 per cent cost.

Sindh will also complete the World Bank-funded project of On- Farm Water Management at a cost of Rs1,800 million.

A similar scheme will be executed next year at a cost of Rs1,200 million.

The Sindh Abadgar Board has welcomed the announcement by the irrigation department that water supply would be normal in a week.

He said that cultivation of cotton and rice had been badly affected by water shortage.

The delay in the sowing of cotton and rice, which are cash crops, would have a damaging effect on country’s economy.

It urged the government to announce support price for paddy and cotton so that farmers could plan their crop size.

The government should also announce increase in subsidy on DAP fertiliser which is presently Rs470 per 50 kg bag.

The Federal Agriculture Committee in a recent meeting had decided to increase subsidy on DAP. However, the amount of enhanced subsidy would be decided by the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet.