MUZAFFARGARH, May 1: The Muzaffargarh canal which had been closed for farmers for the last six months, is supplying water to the lands of bureaucrats and former military officials.

This canal irrigates 0.8 million acre land, but it had been closed in Rabi season owing to construction of its banks and stone ditching as a result wheat crops were irrigated through peter engine and tubewells.

On the other hand, Thal Minor head No 46 which has been carved out from Muzaffargarh canal is full of water because this water course irrigates the lands of a former district coordination officer, a former agriculture secretary and many ex-military officers.

Up to 1,500 cusec water in Muzaffargarh canal was released and flowed towards head No 46.

Earlier, irrigation officials announced that water would be released in Muzaffargarh canal in February, and later they said it would be done in March, but till now they could not provide water to farmers.

Growers are worried about their investment and especially contractors who pay Rs16,000 per acre per annum to landlords.

Nowadays farmers prepare their lands for the cultivation of cotton, but due to non-availability of water supply in this canal they are facing problems. According to them, these days are the best for cultivating cotton and with the passage of time the crop would be affected badly.

They are demanding canal water because the SCARP tubewells have already been closed while loadshedding and high diesel price are the main problems.

A farmer, Malik Anjum Hafeez, told this correspondent that he had cultivated sugarcane on 10 acres but shortage of water in the canal damaged his crop.

When Dawn contacted Kot Addu XEN Mohabbat Khan, he said water would be available in this canal in the beginning of May.

“Thal minors are serving the bigwigs, so I will not comment on this,” Khan said. Chief engineer Iftikhar Bhutta was not available for comments.