MIRPURKHAS, May 20: The cotton crop has been damaged because of the acute shortage of water in the district which will, eventually, lead to decreased harvest in the current year.

According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, about 8,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water was being supplied in the Nara Canal against its capacity of 13,600 cusecs.

There was an official shortage of 60 per cent that increased up to 80 per cent in the tail areas, forcing the irrigation department to supply water only for drinking.

Moreover, a rotation programme had been implemented at the Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar canals and, as the district was located at the tail of the Nara Canal command area, therefore, water shortage was a regular feature here.

Under the prevailing situation, many watercourses were lying dry, damaging sugarcane and chili crops as well as vegetables besides cotton. It was also learnt that a huge quantity of water was being stolen through 260 illegal pumps, set up on both sides of the canal passing through Khairpur district.

Growers of different distributaries held dozens of protest demonstrations and blamed irrigation officials for non-supply of water to their respective areas even for drinking.

They also held the Nara Canal director responsible for the mismanagement of the department and said that their crops would be destroyed if water was not provided in a fortnight.

They have demanded that the governor as well as the chief minister should take notice of the irregularities and ensure proper supply of water without delay, failing which, the agriculture sector of the district would be ruined.

The affected areas include Umerkot, Pithoro, Shadi Palli, Bachao Band, Samaro, Kunri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Bustan, Naokot, Digri, Jhuddo, Mirwah and Mirpurkhas taluka.

GAS FACILITY: Residents of Gulshan-i-Rahmania and parts of Pak Colony here on Wednesday complained that their areas had been deprived of gas facility due to non-availability of equipment.

Talking to journalists, the residents deplored that an underground pipeline had been laid but due to non-availability of equipment, gas authorities were unable to provide connections. They demanded that higher authorities should take notice of the matter and ensure the provision of gas.