SUKKUR, July 15: There was no shortage of water for irrigation purposes and all the off-taking canals of the Sukkur Barrage were flowing in perfect condition.

The rotation system had also been withdrawn due to improvement of water flow at the upstream and downstream of the Sukkur Barrage.

A spokesman for the Irrigation Department told APP here on Monday that sufficient water was available to meet the needs of Kharif crops.

According to him, 1,18,161 cusecs water discharge was recorded at the upstream of the Sukkur Barrage and 60,180 cusecs at its downstream on Monday, July 15.

He termed as baseless reports in the press that there was scarcity of irrigation water in the commandment area of the Sukkur Barrage.

He said the department had taken a number of effective steps to make water available at the extreme ends of canals.

He said the situation had improved due to rains in the upcountry and ice malting in the hilly areas.

At Gudu and Kotri the upstream water discharge was recorded 1,67,329 cusecs and 57,981 cusecs, respectively, on Monday, and at downstream it was 37,948 and 39,199 cusecs, respectively, the spokesman said.

According to him the situation would remain normal for another few weeks and hoped that enough water would be available for the Kharif crop.—APP

KILLED: A woman passenger was killed and the driver was injured when some highway men fired at the bus near Labano Shakh, Shikarpur district, on Monday, reports our Sukkur Correspondent.