KHAIRPUR, Feb 27: Irrigation water shortage in district Khairpur continued as the water level at Sukkur Barrage dropped by 1,000 cusecs on Tuesday night.

According to reports the upstream flow at Sukkur Barrage was recorded at 20,530 cusecs whereas the downstream was at 2,535 cusecs on Wednesday due to which the water level in Rohri canal and Khairpur feeder west and east, Mirwah canal could not be improved.

Khairpur Abadgar Ittehad President Shakir Shah, former district chairman of Chamber of Agriculture Ghulam Qasim Jiskani, and Sindh Hari Committee leader Zahid Ghumro expressed concern over the water situation in the district.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, they said it was peak season for crops, like wheat, banana, mango, date palm orchards, vegetables and other fruits, but due to the shortage of water, abadgars were unable to irrigate their crops.

They added that production of seasonal crops including wheat, fruits and vegetables would be affected this year.

They said there had been an acute shortage of water in four talukas of the district, including Khairpur, Thari Mirwah, Kotdiji and Faiz Ganj which fed by Mirwah canal, since last 15 days.

They added that last year during the current season the water flow at Sukkur Barrage was 30,000-35,000 cusecs at upstream. They said the decline of water level at upstream Sukkur Barrage by 1,000 cusecs during last 48 hours was a matter of concern.

UNPOPULAR GOVERNMENTS: The former district nazim of Khairpur, Nafisa Shah, has said that the district governments elected in the past local elections were unpopular particularly of the Khairpur district because they had failed to prove themselves as helpful to people.

She said a no-trust motion could be tabled against district governments in different districts of Sindh if the majority of district councils’ members wanted so.

She said local body elections in 2005 were massively rigged and the PML-Q backed district governments were brought into power under a conspiracy.

She was speaking at a discussion forum organised by a Sindhi television news channel regarding the general elections on Tuesday night.

She said votes cast for the PPP in the polls had proved the popularity of the party among the people of four provinces.

She said they did not believe in political victimisation and after the forming of a coalition government in the centre the PPP would take sincere efforts for the betterment and welfare of people as well as resolution of important issues such as education, health, law and order, human rights and other matters.