MIRPURKHAS, Nov 19: Residents of the district have criticized the National Logistic Cell for its refusal to transport 150,000 bags of wheat from Punjab to all centres as per a contract.

The Sindh government had awarded the contract to the NLC for transportation of 150,000 bags of wheat from Punjab to different centres in the district. But it engaged itself in a sub-contract with a private transport firm which refused to carry wheat to Umerkot, Kunri, Pithoro, Jhuddo and Digri.

The food department's godowns in these centres are empty leading to apprehensions about price-hike of flour. Chakki-owners receive their wheat quota from the nearest centre in the district but refusal of the NLC sub-contractor to transport to all centres may force them to take their quota from Mirpurkhas causing them extra transport expenses.

Meanwhile, Wheat sowing is being adversely affected due to an acute water shortage at the tail-end area. After reducing water supply of 8,800 cusecs against designed 13,600 cusecs, water was being supplied to Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar canals under rotation programme by the irrigation authorities. Over 100 distributaries are lying closed due to the rotation programme.