SUKKUR, March 3: Growers said here on Wednesday the wheat crop target set by the Sindh government could not be achieved if water shortage persisted in the province.

From the Sukkur Barrage, 30,700 cusecs water had to be supplied to Sukkur through its off-taking canals, but the district received 22,585 cusecs water. The growers said the delay in wheat cultivation on account of water shortage would result into less production of the crop and it would be hard to achieve the fixed target.

According to irrigation sources, the water level at the Mangla Dam on Wednesday was 1,372 feet while its dead level was 1,369 feet. The Tarbella Dam would also touch its dead level in next two days, they added.

The Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal in Punjab has also been closed due to the water shortage. According to the Indus River System Authority, the overall water shortage was 11 per cent while Sindh was facing 25 per cent shortage which was likely to reach 40 per cent in coming two to three days.

Irrigation authorities in Sukkur said six rivers of the country received water flow of 73,980 cusecs on Tuesday, out of which the Tarbella Dam received 16,400 cusecs water from the River Indus, Mangla Dam received 14,112 cusecs from the River Jhelum, Maralla got 13,468 cusecs from the River Chenab, Balloki received 16,500 cusecs from the River Ravi, Sulemanki was supplied 7,400 cusecs from the River Setlaj and Nowshera received 6,100 cusecs water from the River Kabul.

Out of 98,588 cusecs water, 29,721 cusecs water was supplied to Sindh and Balochistan and 68,867 cusecs water was supplied to Punjab.

BAR POLLS: People's Party Parliamentarians leader Imdad Ali Awan was elected president of the Sukkur High Court Bar Association for the eighth consecutive time here on Wednesday.