LAHORE, Oct 6: The Irrigation and Power Department on Saturday cut off supplies to the main perennial channels feeding the cotton growing areas to save water for the sowing of Rabi crop.

The canals will be closed gradually over the next two to three days, official sources said here.

The non-perennial channels in the province were closed on Oct 1, saving 22,000 cusecs. With the closure of the perennial canals, the province will save another 20,000 cusecs.

The canals have been closed in view of a projected 51 per cent shortage of water during the Rabi season.

The perennial canals that will be closed in a day or two include the 800-cusec Lower Bari Doab Canal, the 5,500-cusec Upper Pakpattan Canal, the 800-cusec Haveli Canal, the 4,200-cusecs Sidhnai Canal, the 1,500-cusecs Lower Pakpattan Canal, the 4,600-cusec Lower Mailsi Canal and the 4,000-cusec Lower Bahawal Canal.

The LBDC feeds Multan, Khanewal and Sahiwal districts, the UPC Okara, Pakpattan and Vehari, the HC Shorkot and Jhang, the SC Multan and Shujaabad, the LPC and the LMC Lodhran, and the LB Bahawalpur.

Irrigation officials said closure of the canals would have no impact on the cotton crop.

Last year the Rabi season had started with a projected water shortage of 35 per cent. By the end of season the figure was 43 per cent.

This year the projected shortage is 51 per cent. The authorities do not expect it to increase beyond 55 per cent.