SIALKOT, Oct 3: A large number of farmers in Bajwat demonstrated against the shortage of irrigation water which was badly affecting their standing seasonal crops.

Carrying banners and placards, the protestors chanted slogans against the government functionaries for their failure to ensure the supply of water in canals to irrigate their fields in Sialkot and Narowal districts.

Growers alleged that seasonal crops, especially the paddy, on more than 6,000 acres of land had been badly affected in the Sialkot district alone due to water shortage caused by three-week long closure of the Marala Ravi Link Canal. They said the water level was continuously decreasing in the River Chenab after the suspension of water supply by India.

Protesting farmers urged the government to take some urgent measures to save their remaining standing paddy and other crops from damaging besides saving them from further financial crisis caused by the nasty situation.

Paddy growers demanded that the government should announce a package of financial relief for the affected farmers.

Officials of the Sialkot agriculture department said that standing paddy crop on more than 6,000 acres was badly affected because of a sharp drop of water level in the Upper Chenab Canal. It also had an adverse affect on other seasonal crops in the Sialkot district, they said.

They said they had left with no option but to close the Upper Chenab Canal because the water level was decreasing rapidly in River Chenab after the suspension of its water supply by India.

“Yes we are considering closing the Upper Chenab Canal within the next couple of days,” they said.

On the other hand, the water level is continuously dropping in the River Chenab at Head Marala.

According to officials concerned, the discharge of water at Head Marala should be at least 59,000 cusecs daily, but currently the discharge is only 10,000 cusecs.

Affected farmers urged the government to take up the matter with the Indian government and pressurize it to release water in the River Chenab.

SHOT DEAD: Three persons were shot dead in separate incidents here on Friday.

In Sambrial, an unknown person was found murdered near the railway station.

In Bhopalwala, Sambrial, six armed men shot dead a youth Kashif over an old enmity. In Shahabpura, Sialkot, Sudheer and his accomplice murdered Imran.

Police have registered separate cases with no arrest.