MIRPURKHAS, Oct 28: Water flow in the head of Nara canal has been increased, following closure of channels of Guddu barrage and rice canal at Sukkur barrage as result of which Mirpurkhas division will receive 6000 cusecs water from Nara canal.

However, its 2000 cusecs water was stolen by landlords through over 250 illegal pumping machines fixed on both sides of Nara canal in district Khairpur.

In all, about 8000 cusecs water was being released to Nara head for Mirpurkhas division while there was a demand of 13000 cusecs to fulfil the requirement of the command area of the canal.

There was an acute shortage of water in the area and owing to this shortage of water.

Growers have cultivated sugarcane crop on less area in the division.

Wheat sowing was adversely affected and delayed. Wheat growers were preparing their lands for sowing with the hope that sufficient water would be provided to them to make successful ‘grow more wheat campaign’ in the division. Owing to persisting shortage of water, cotton, chilli, onion, sugarcane and vegetables crops had been damaged incurring heavy losses to the growers.

Following the closure of scores of distributaries under rotation programme, protests by the affected growers continued in Digri, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Pithoro, Samaro, Kunri and Kot Ghulam Muhammad talukas.

It may be recalled that about one week ago, Director, Nara Canal Area Water Board, Muhammad Rafiq Memon had issued orders to remove all the illegal pumping machines fixed at both sides of Nara canal in district Khairpur, but they all were operating and stealing water, as concerned XEN did not yet comply the orders.

Meanwhile, chairman farmers organisation council Syed Ali Gohar Shah, general secretary Sarfaraz Junejo, president Sindh Abadgar Growers Development Association Rais Ahmed Khan and Pir Iqbal Jan Sarhandi have criticized the rotation programme under which once in three week water would be provided to distributaries.

They said that this would destroy the rural economy.