SANGHAR, March 12: An acute water shortage is persisting in the Nara canal as the water level on Wednesday stood at 4,000 cusecs against its designed capacity of 16,600 cusecs.

A 15-day rotation system has been clamped on the Nara canal command area.

Jamrao, Mithrao, Khipro canals which originate from the Nara canal are also flowing low.

Farmers fear they would not be able to sow cotton in season starting from March 15 due to the water shortage.

The irrigation authorities have told farmers that there was a 75 per cent water shortage which might further worsen.

They said the water level at Nara canal was decreasing one decimal each day — there are ten decimals in one foot.

No improvement is expected till the melting of glaciers’ ice in the North Areas and further rains.

The current crops of wheat, vegetables, sugarcane, chilli, mango orchards and banana have already received considerable losses.

The wheat grain has shrunk and crop also terminated premature which will badly affected the per acre yield.

The farmers have complained that even after 15 days when the water is released the level is so low that it cannot reach the fields through watercourse modules.

To fetch more water, the influential landlords install diesel operated heavy pumps to lift water as a result the small farmers are deprived of their share.

The farmers have demanded subsidy on installation of tube-wells, diesel and electricity rates to cope with the water shortage.