HYDERABAD, May 16: About 90 per cent work of desilting the Hassan Ali, Sultani and Jhole water channels of the Left Bank Canal Area Water Board has been completed. An amount of Rs14.3 million is being spent on channels which had not been desilted for 50 years. As a result, a large number of farmers have migrated from the area over the years due to an acute shortage of water.

Under the orders of the Sindh chief minister, an amount of Rs4.8 million will be spent on desilting of Sultani Shakh of the Phulleli canal division, restoring 1,165 cusecs supply of water.

Prior to desilting, the water supply in this channel had been reduced to only 500 cusecs.

Similarly, an amount of Rs4.2 million is being spent on desilting of Hassan Ali branch of the Gani canal division and work is expected to be completed on May 18. Two thousand acres of barren land will be brought under cultivation due to desilting of the canal.