BAHAWALPUR, Sept 10: The water supply in several parts of the Bahawalpur zone and Punjab province came to a halt on Friday when the Irrigation department closed a number of canals in a bid to augment canal water supply to kharif crops in selected areas of the province.

It is learnt that the measures have been taken in view of the looming water crisis in the province following less rainfall in the catchment areas and regulating the water rotation system for preserving water for the coming rabi season as well in advance.

The second round of closure will be effective from Sept 16 when there will be complete shutdown of canals in the Bahawalpur zone and other parts of the Punjab.

According to officials concerned, as the standing kharif crops like cotton, sugarcane and rice are in sheer danger due to water shortage, it is decided that the area of cotton belt should be provided water to some extent to save the cotton crop which is now in its final stage here.

To achieve the target, the water supply will be continued to the selected areas here till Sept 15 and 16. The water will be reserved for wheat sowing after stopping supply to the canals.

It is further learnt that the canal water supply could be resumed during the first week of October to facilitate the growers for wheat sowing.

A source told Dawn that by Sept 16, the Punjab's eight per cent canals would be closed, but this, too, could have adverse effects on the standing crops of cotton, sugarcane and rice.

According to a regulation plan prepared by the provincial Irrigation department, the cotton areas in the Bahawalpur and Punjab will have to face about 10 to 77 per cent shortage of water after Sept 16 with the closure of all perennial canals.

It is learnt that 11 canals being fed by Tarbela dam will have to face water shortage of 23 per cent from Sept 11 to Sept 15, and 16 per cent to 20 per cent from Sept 16 to Sept 20 and 77 per cent from Sept 21 to Sept 30 in Bahawalpur.

These 11 canals included the Lower Bahawalpur, Haveli, Sidhnai, Rangpur, Abbasia and others. The cotton growers have been provided last chance to irrigate their fields. It may be mentioned that no rainfall is expected in the coming 20 days in this hot and plane region of Bahawalpur.