LAHORE, Sept 30: The country starts Rabi season on Friday (today) with both dams partially filled and an expected water shortage of 56 per cent.

The Tarbela dam has not been filled for the first time since its commissioning in the late seventies. Mangla dam, however, could not be filled on 11 occasions in the 37 years of its life.

The huge shortage would practically mean one full and one partial watering of wheat of three essential ones. This may put severe pressure on food security and force the country to import huge quantity of wheat.

Meanwhile, the Punjab would close down all non-perennial canals from Friday to meet water shortage in the Rabi season. The available supplies would be directed towards saline areas in order to help crops there.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Aamer Sultan Cheema on Thursday said six different proposals were on the table to rationalize water distribution. Firstly, perennial canals in cotton zone were proposed to be closed between October 5 and 25.

Secondly, perennial canals in rice zone were proposed to be closed from October 10 to 25. Thirdly, cotton zone would get maximum supplies from October 26 to 31. Fourthly, rice areas would get maximum supplies from October 26 to December 15.

Fifthly, two waterings were proposed to be given in perennial canals in cotton and rice zones, and finally, all canals would be kept closed from March 21 to 31. A water distribution plan on these lines has been sent to the irrigation department for suggestions and a joint meeting would be held on October 7 to evolve a consensus formula.