MIRPURKHAS, April 15: About fifty per cent water shortage persisted in the Nara canal command area after the shortfall in water flow in the Indus River.

As a result, dozens of water channels of the Jamrao canal have been put under the rotation programme.

Most of the farmers are unable to prepare their land for sowing of cotton and sugar cane at the tail-end area of the Nara canal.

The executive engineer of the Jamrao canal, Shamil Hingorjo told Dawn on Saturday that gauge of water stood at 4.4 feet at head of the Nara canal against requirement of 7.3 feet, causing 50 per cent shortage at the tail-end of the Nara canal.

He said that he was implementing the rotation programme as a result of which Sadrat minor-1, Sadrat minor-II, Shaho branch, Dalore, Mirpur, Bareji, Puran, Sangro, Belharo and Murid distributaries, Mari, Kahoo Minor, Kahoo Vesro Mir and Photo minors would be closed.

Mr Hingorjo said that only 800 cusecs of water was being supplied to the Jamrao canal against demand of 3,200 cusecs.

He said that late release of required quantity of water was unlikely as high-ups of the canal informed all subordinate officers that no increase at the head was expected till April 25.

As a result, sowing of cotton and other crops would be affected in the command areas of the canal.

The executive engineer of the Thar canal, Gulzar Shah said the canal was lying closed since March 17 for desilting and expressed hope that water supply in the canal was expected from April 16.

An official of the Mithrao irrigation division said that at present demand of 12 feet gauge water was being supplied in the canal.

Sources in the irrigation department said that more quantity of water was being supplied at tail of Mithrao canal because lands of the Sindh chief minister were situated at the tail of Mithrao canal.

The general secretary of the Sindh Abadgar Board, Mirpurkhas, Imtiaz Panhwar, lamented that farmers failed to prepare agriculture lands for sowing of cotton, sugarcane and other crops as sowing of cotton began from April 15 in Sindh.