SANGHAR, Sept 13: The Irrigation Department has closed canals without informing farmers while water requirement at this stage is high. The cotton crop is under stress due to attack of mealy bug, thrip and mite while sowing of onion, chilli, tomato is at full swing and the non-availability of water will cause irreparable loss.

The unannounced rotation programme has damaged recently transplanted vegetable crops and nurseries, said the farmers. Nara Canal has been closed for desilting at the head and supply will be restored within few days, said the Irrigation Department officials.

Mir Nizamani, Hassan Askari, Ghulam Hingoro, Aijaz Rind of Small Growers Association and Farmers Organisation said the shortage has been created deliberately and closing of canal at this stage will cause lot of damage.

Worst affected farmers are those who have uprooted their nursery plants for transplantation worth thousands of rupees but could not succeed. The rate of onion nursery for one acre is more than Rs15,000.