BAHAWALPUR, June 4: The target of cotton cultivation on 745,000 acre land could not be achieved by the end of May this year owing to water shortage in Bahawal canal circle area.

This was said by SE (irrigation) Muhammad Amin during a briefing to Chief Minister’s Inspection team (CMIT) chairman Tariq Khan Mazari.

According to the SE, cotton was sown only on 260,000 acre land which would result in production shortfall.

The CMIT chairman asked the officials to ensure water supply at tail ends and take strict action against pilferage.

SADIQABAD: Acute scarcity of irrigation water and soaring prices of phosphorous fertilisers have left an adverse impact on the current cotton sowing and cultivation figures showed 225 per cent decline. Reports says growers are facing hardships in irrigation as water level in rivers and dams had reduced due to dry spell in the country. As a result 50 per cent canals of the district did not have water for the last three months. Cholistan is the most hit area and its water reservoirs have dried up. A number of inhabitants have shifted to safer places where water is available for cattle and humans.