LAHORE, Oct 1: The Punjab Water Council on Wednesday asked the irrigation department to delay closure of canals for non-perennial cotton till Oct 16.

The council regretted at a meeting that the department had sought no input from the growers while preparing the plan. It was a highly wet year, which caused excessive vegetative growth and delayed fruiting on the cotton crop. “Now, the department has chosen to close canals earlier, thus depriving the crop of the last watering.”

A council delegation also met the provincial irrigation minister and apprised him of its fears. It also noted that the canals’ closure was already under way in some areas where there would be much effect.

The participants insisted that the agriculture and irrigation departments must take input from the farmers before finalizing such a vital plan. There was sufficient water available in both the dams and the country faced no immediate water crisis, they added.

“The department always tend to spoil cotton crop in the name of wheat, an attitude which must be part with because the farmers are equally interested in both the crops,” they said.