MITHI, April 14: Non-supply of canal water through pipelines from Naukot to various towns and villages of Tharparkar for the last one month has deprived over 10,000 families of potable water due to rotation programme in Raan distributary.

The government laid pipelines from Naukot to Mithi, Mithi to Islamkot, Islamkot to Thahario Halepoto, Kaloi to Diplo and few other villages in 2002.

Big tanks were also constructed near Naukot for storage of canal water through Raan distributary and water was pumped onwards to the towns and villages of Tharparkar through pumping stations established at various localities.

The residents of Mithi were supplied water after every ten days for an hour by the taluka municipal administration and the people had to store it in small tanks.

However, as the irrigation department initiated water rotation an inadequate quantity of water is released in Raan distributary after 21 days, as a result of which tanks near Naukot almost dried up.

No canal water is being supplied to Mithi, Islamkot, Kaloi, Diplo, Thahario and a number of villages for the last one month.

Meanwhile, the growers of Kaloi, Bhitaro and Khetlari union councils, Diplo taluka, have urged the government to take notice of, what they called artificial shortage of water in Raan distributary that has destroyed crops and created drought-like situation in the area.