SANGHAR, Aug 19: Farmers have decried ‘artificial’ shortage of water in the canals controlled by the Jhol and Khadro sub-divisions of the irrigation department where the authorities have launched an unscheduled rotation programme.

Sindh Small Growers Association’s general secretary Hassan Askari and other farmers told Dawn that they failed to understand the reason behind water shortage in the Sanghar area when Tarbela and Mangla dams were brimming with water and many canals in Sindh had developed breaches due to excess water. They said at this stage, non-availability of water to cotton, sugarcane, chilli, onion and other crops would badly affect the yield.

When the irrigation officials were contacted, they said that due to recent rains, water level in the Nara Canal and its tributaries had been reduced to avoid breaches. “Now we have asked for restoration of normal supply and within two or three days there would be no water shortage in the canals,” they added.