THATTA, June 4: Acute shortage of irrigation water has seriously affected the germination of kharif paddies in almost all nine talukas of Thatta district and has caused irreparable losses to local growers living in command areas of Pinyari circle, Kalri Baghar Feeder and Sakro divisions.

Out of the total, five talukas lie on the right of Indus River and are supplied water by the KB feeder while four talukas on the right are irrigated via the Pinyari Circle, but both arteries face acute shortage of water.

Growers living on the left side of the Indus River in command area of Pinyari Circle had invested large amounts of money to cultivate about half of six to seven acres of agricultural land falling in the command area of the three irrigation channels but unavailability of water has caused the land to deteriorate, besides severely hampering the growth of seedlings sown by the growers.

To make matters worse, there is also an acute shortage of water for drinking and domestic use in coastal talukas including Keti Bundar, Kharochaan, Mirpur Sakro and Ghorabari where people either have to fetch water from far off sites or pay exorbitant sums to get tankers. The persisting water shortage also heaved enormous problems for people living in Thatta and Makli towns. Residents here have no option but to buy water tankers on higher rates.

Meanwhile in areas on the right bank of Indus River, in the command areas of KB feeder, the situation has resulted by unscheduled wara bandi — rotational supply system of water similar to electricity load shedding — by the irrigation authorities through the lower KB feeder. Water supply in Thatta Naali, Allahkhai Minor, Baao Purandas Minor, Ghar Massan, Machki Naali, Jaam Wah and Sakro Branch had also been badly affected.

Meanwhile, the command areas of lower Pinyari and upper Pinyari divisions including Shor Wah, Hajia Wah, Khalsa, Chota Pinyari, Dars Minor, Jati Branch, Main Pinyari Canal, Ganj Behar System, Fatiha Wah, Ghari Wah, Chandan Wah, Chorr Wah, Jaffra Wah and Joya Wah also face a similar situation.

Despite several attempts, superintendent irrigation engineer of the Pinyari Circle, Qadir Palijo, did not respond. However, executive engineers of the lower Pinyari division, Maula Bux Abro, said told Dawn that the Pinyari Circle water distribution system required at least 42,000 cusecs of water at Jamshoro where as the current water level was just over 8,000 cusecs.

He said that around 24,000 cusecs of water had been released from Sukkur which would take more than a week to arrive at Jamshoro.

This release would relieve at least 50 per cent shortage, he said.

Besides the KB feeder, Keenjhar and perennial water system of Akram Wah in Badin district and Phulleli Canal also require at least 24,000 cusecs for optimum supply of water.

According to an irrigation official, the Pinyari Circle irrigation system required between 11,000 and 12,000 cusecs of water for downwards streamlining.

The sowing season is already more than a month late and the met department has predicted heavy rains from July 15, adding to the growers’ worries. Late arrival of water would make sure the deterioration of the paddy fields.

However, the growers have insisted that distribution of water should be just and influentials should be prevented from taking more than their legitimate share of water.