SUKKUR, Jan 26: The work of desilting of canals of the Sukkur Barrage has been completed and water was to be released into the canals on Thursday night. It is hoped that the water release will help ease water shortage in the Sukkur city.

Sindh irrigation secretary Shuja Ahmad Junejo on Thursday visited the barrage and expressed satisfaction over the de-silting work of the canals. He directed to release water into the canals.

Barrage chief engineer said water would be released into Dadu, Rohri, Nara, and NWFP canals tonight and water into Khairpur East Feeder and West Feeder canals would be released within next two days because these canals had yet not been de-silted.

He said stone pitching work at the downstream Sukkur Barrage was continuing with the help of the Frontier Works Organization and added that the work would be completed in March.

According to agriculture experts, non-supply of water has affected Kharif crops and production of paddy crop has also been low.