HYDERABAD, July 12: Despite reports of increasing levels of water upstream, the water level at the Kotri barrage is normal. Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, the executive engineer of the Kotri barrage, Mr Aijaz Shaikh, said all embankments in the command area of the barrage were safe. He said the situation was under control along Sann-20, Darri bund from RD-0 to RD-13 and right and left marginal bunds.

He said the water flow at the Kotri barrage upstream at 6pm was recorded at 125,602 cusecs and downstream at 87,780 cusecs.

At the Sukkur barrage, the water flow upstream was recorded at 6pm at 492,745 cusecs and downstream 438,940 cusecs.

At the Guddu barrage, the water flow at upstream was 526,127 cusecs and downstream 491,682 cusecs.

He said the water flow at the Kotri barrage would increase gradually as water reached here from the Sukkur barrage.

It may be mentioned that there was an acute water shortage in many off-taking canals of the Kotri barrage and farmers were demanding an end to the water rotation programme.