SUKKUR, May 20: There is 72 per cent water shortage at Sukkur and Guddu barrages as Sindh is getting only 28 per cent out of its share of 62,000 cusecs of water.

This was said by the irrigation officials based at Sukkur and Guddu on Monday.

They told Dawn that two of the main canals originating from Sukkur and Guddu— Begari Sindh Feeder of Guddu Barrage and Rice Canal of Sukkur Barrage— were lying still closed.

The irrigation officials said that water flow at Sukkur Barrage on Monday was 23,423 cusecs upstream and only 6,010 cusecs downstream.

At Guddu Barrage water level was 35,316 cusecs upstream and 29,444 cusecs downstream.

According to the latest situation revealed by the control officers at Sukkur and Guddu barrages, BS Feeder of Guddu and Rice Canal of Sukkur Barrage were still dry though their routine date of opening was May 1.

Ghotki Feeder canal and Desert Feeder canal of Guddu Barrage were opened late by 15 days and due to water shortage, water in the channels was equal to half of their capacity as a result the tail-end areas were not receiving water.

Similar situation was observed at the canals originating from Sukkur Barrage, including Rohri Canal, Nara canal, East West Canal and NW Canal.

The Irrigation officials said that Sindh was experiencing worst kind of water shortage in River Indus.

According to them due to this shortage of water, it was not possible at the three barrages of Sindh to release water into the canals even at the minimum level.

The irrigation officials said that these days Punjab should get water from Mangla Dam instead from River Indus since it had stored sufficient water at the dam and there was no chance of increase of water in River Indus for the next few weeks.

KILLED: Armed robbers killed a van driver and looted Rs60,000 from the van near Sangi, some ten km from here, on Monday.

The robbers, travelling in a white car, intercepted the van which was coming from Daharki.