SUKKUR: The Indus River System Autho­rity (Irsa) has released to Sindh its additional share of 10,000 cusec water from Tarbela Dam which was expected to reach Sukkur Barrage within 40 hours and help growers sow wheat and other seasonal crops, according to in-charge of control room at Sukkur Barrage Haji Abdul Aziz Soomro.

Mr Soomro told media persons on Monday that situation would become better when the water reached Sukkur and was released from the barrage into Rice Canal, Dadu Canal and Khirthar Canal on the right bank of the river and Khairpur East Canal, Khairpur West Canal, Nara and Rohri Canal on the left bank.

He said that as of Nov 9, water level at Tarbela Dam was recorded at 1,460.8 feet, at upstream of Kalabagh Barrage the level was 75,791 cusec and downstream 71,791, at upstream of Chashma Barrage it was 64,700 cusec and downstream 61,000 cusec, at upstream of Taunsa Barrage it was 50,927 cusec and downstream 45,936 cusec, at upstream of Guddu Barrage the water level was 37,968 cusec and at downstream 31,835 cusec, at upstream of Sukkur Barrage it was 28,540 and downstream 5,900 cusec while 22,640 cusec was being released into canals. The water level at upstream of Kotri Barrage was recorded at 3,733 cusec and at Mangla Dam it was at 1,149.25 feet, he added.

He said the Sindh government had requested Irsa to release additional 10,000 cusec of its share so that its growers could utilise the water in the cultivation of wheat and other seasonal crops before the annual closure of all off-taking canals of Kotri Barrage (from Dec 25 to Jan 10) and Sukkur Barrage (from Jan 6 to 20) for repair and maintenance.

Mr Soomro said that growers had been informed about the arrival of additional water and said that water shortage at Sukkur Barrage had remained about 30 per cent.

Growers protest against water shortage

MIRPURKHAS: Scores of growers, whose lands were irrigated by Khairpur Gambo irrigation subdivision, held a demonstration at Fraho regulator near Jhuddo town on Monday in protest against the irrigation department’s failure to release water into 17 distributaries and minors of the subdivision for the past few months.

The protesters’ leaders Raees Abdul Jabbar, Manzoor Chandio and Haji Mukhtiar Pitafi told media persons that the minors and distributaries of the subdivision, including Khoski, Jaraks, Sangi, Bangar, Oilpur, Farho and others had been deprived of water for the last few months.

They feared about 60,000 acres of fertile land could become barren if it remained uncultivated for longer periods. They were facing financial crisis while many farm workers had already migrated to other places because of famine-like conditions in the area, they said.

They said that they did not even have water for drinking and were compelled to buy small water cans at exorbitant rates for their families and cattle.

They demanded Sindh chief minister, provincial minister for irrigation and secretary of irrigation take notice of the aggravating situation, ensure supply of water into their distributaries and take action against the officers responsible for the situation.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2018