SUKKUR, July 31: Shortage of water persists at the Sukkur Barrage despite the rise in water level at the Tarbella Dam.

An irrigation official told this correspondent on Friday that a shortage of one to two feet in water flow in the barrage's canals - Northwest Canal, Rice Canal and Dadu Canal - had been recorded.

He said the water level at Tarbella was recorded 1,418 feet on Friday, which was 1,410 feet two days back.

The official had hoped that the water level would rise at the Sukkur Barrage by Saturday as 5,000 cusecs of water had been released from the Chesma Barrage, which had reached the Guddu Barrage, but the water did not reach Sukkur on Saturday.

According to irrigation sources, Sindh could face an acute shortage of water in the next few days in the wake of shortage at the Chesma Barrage. They said the worst affected was the Dadu Canal, having a shortage of two feet, due to which Kharif crops in its command area had sustained huge losses.

They said the barrage on Friday discharged 144,000 cusecs of water against its discharge of 180,000 cusecs two days back.

They further said during the Rabi season, which starts from October, the country would face water shortage as the water level at Tarbella was not expected to rise further.

The reason for the recent increase at Tarbella is said to be the rise in temperature in Skardu, which touched 33 degrees Celsius during the last four to five days, melting ice. But now the temperature has fallen again to 25 degrees Celsius it can decrease further.

The sources said executive engineers concerned had been issued alert signals as the province was likely to have water shortage in August too.

They said in August the Guddu Barrage needed 38,000 cusecs of water, the Sukkur Barrage 56,200 cusecs of water and the Kotri Barrage 27,600 cusecs of water.

On Friday, water flow at upstream Guddu Barrage was recorded 144,000 cusecs and downstream 114,000 cusecs, at upstream Sukkur Barrage, water flow was 89800 cusecs and downstream it was 30,800 cusecs and at Kotri Barrage upstream, water flow was 43,000 cusecs and at downstream 42,00 cusecs.