SANGHAR, March 6: Acute water shortage in Nara canal system has badly hit wheat, vegetable, sugarcane and other crops as several branches and distributaries are closed for more than 10 days.

Irrigation authorities had put into practice rotation system and release water to some branches after 15 days. However, low level hampers water to reach fields. Many farmers at Dim Wah use diesel-operated machines to irrigate their crop. All canals originating from Nara i.e., Jamrao, Mithrao, Khipro canals were flowing at ebbs. More than 10 distributaries of Shahu Branch i.e., Kuro, Liari, Jhol, Bijar, Bhiro, Tail, Bitoor and other were closed since last 10 days.

Irrigation authorities when contacted could not tell when water will be released. Wheat crop will receive heavy loss if it did not receive irrigation water. Besides, vegetable also will be damaged which will create shortage.

According to irrigation authorities the persisting water shortage was due to low level in Indus River and Tarbela and Mangla dams.

Our Khairpur correspondent adds: Farmers continued their protest in Hingorja on Thursday against shortage of irrigation water in different canals of Sobhodero Taluka.

The Abadgar Ittehad leaders Comrade Khuda Bux Sehto and Kandero Sehto said wheat and sugarcane crops were being destroyed due to shortage of water in 15 minor canals including Hingorja, Samaaj, Gadeji, Kharal, Daraza, Sobho, Taj, Mehrab, Machhar, Meerak, Girkino, Teekno, Siyal minor for last one week. Protest will continue till the supply of irrigation water, they said

The growers of four minor canals of Faiz Ganj Taluka led by Sindh Hari Committee leaders Mir Mohammad Brohi and Alif Khan Majidano protested in Pakka Chang on Thursday.

Official Booked: The Anti-Corruption Establishment registered a case against Medical Superintendent, Taluka Hospital Khipro, Dr Iqbal Kaimkhani and five others.

The doctor in connivance with Clerk Munir Ahmed, Accountant Pyar Ali Bhutto, Ishtiaque Ahmed and others misappropriated pay of doctors Ali Shah and Ali Moosa Qadri from January 2003 to December 2005.

Medical Superintendent (MS) took more than Rs1.3 million from Treasury while the said doctors had never been in Khipro Hospital.

The ACE police were conducting raids to arrest the MS and his accomplice.