MIRPURKHAS, Nov 17: Acute shortage of water has adversely affected wheat sowing in the districts lying at the tail-end of the command area of Nara Canal, which is supplying at least 50 per cent less water to the area.

Wheat sowing season begin on Nov 1 in Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts, earlier than many other areas of the province due to climatic differences but it has been delayed this time due to acute shortage of water.

Growers said that a comparatively small area would come under wheat cultivation and its production would also be less than other areas.

Irrigation officials said that water was being supplied only for drinking purposes and shortage in the three districts was over 50 per cent. About 8,680 cusec water was being supplied at the head of Nara Canal against required 14,000 cusec, they said.

The irrigation authorities had started rotation programme for Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar divisions and were supplying water only for drinking purposes to the distributaries and minors for one week.

Over 80 distributaries and minors had been drying up in the command areas of Nara Canal under rotation programme.

Leaders of Small Growers Association Mirpurkhas, Shamsuddin Shaikh and Abdul Ghafoor Maher, condemned irrigation authorities for theft of water from Nara Canal in Khairpur and Sanghar districts, which they said had led to acute shortage of water was persisting in the tail-end area.

They blamed mismanagement in distribution of water for the shortage which was affecting the overall economy of the three districts and said that farmers had sown wheat barely on 10 per cent of the area.

They demanded that the authorities concerned ensure timely water supply to help cultivate wheat crop.

SECTION 144: District Nazim Dr Sughra Junejo has under section 144 prohibited entry of unconcerned persons into examination centres during the examination for FA, BA, PTC, CT and BEd to be held under Allama Iqbal Open University from Nov 20 to Jan 19 in the district.

INFANT DIES: An infant died of cold in the Hari camp being operated by the HRCP on Monday.

Sarwan Kumar, activist of HRCP said that one-year-old Premi, daughter of Amb Bheel fell seriously ill after severe cold and died. The family was residing under open sky at the camp.