An acute water shortage has hit cotton sowing on 200,000 acres with Nawabshah growers facing heavy financial losses. Dad and Nusrat irrigation divisions are in water rotation schedules for last couple of months. Growers of four talukas are facing the onslaught as standing sugarcane, banana, and vegetable crops are not being supplied with water. Growers have held several demonstrations demanding irrigation minister and concerned officials to ensure regular water supply but in vain.

People of different localities of Sukkur held demonstrations on Sunday in protest against unannounced loadshedding and shortage of water, which has almost paralysed normal life in the city.Irked by hours-long loadshedding and scarcity of water, hundreds of citizens held demonstrations in New Pind, Mughal Colony, Old Sukkur and other areas while shouting slogans against Hesco and the taluka municipal administration.

Farmers in south Punjab, who get water from the Indus River, continue facing exceptionally high shortage because of a flawed water distribution mechanism, and are facing difficulties in getting even drinking water, leaving alone sowing cotton. Dwellers of three districts

Provincial Minister Syed Ali Mardan Shah, terming the irrigation water scarcity in District Umerkot as artificial and created by some vested interests, has vowed to take all possible measures to remove the shortage. He was speaking at a big public gathering at Town Hall, Umerkot after his arrival there following his induction as the provincial minister.

The Indian high commissioner, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, said on Tuesday lack of management was mainly responsible for the water crisis in Bangladesh. His remark came when a participant in a discussion on the relationship between Bangladesh and India drew his attention to the Farakka Barrage issue.

Water crisis in Sukkur entered 14th day on Fridday but no corrective measures have been taken by the taluka municipal administration, which is sparking anger among the people. With the advent of summer, people of Sukkur have to face dual problem of power loadshedding and acute shortage of water. Residents of Gharibabad, Clock Tower, Neem-ki-Charhi, Minara Road, Queens Road, Shahi Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, New Pind, New Goth and Old Sukkur are the worst sufferers.

Water crisis in Sukkur entered 14th day on Fridday but no corrective measures have been taken by the taluka municipal administration, which is sparking anger among the people. With the advent of summer, people of Sukkur have to face dual problem of power loadshedding and acute shortage of water. Residents of Gharibabad, Clock Tower, Neem-ki-Charhi, Minara Road, Queens Road, Shahi Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, New Pind, New Goth and Old Sukkur are the worst sufferers.

The Muzaffargarh canal which had been closed for farmers for the last six months, is supplying water to the lands of bureaucrats and former military officials. This canal irrigates 0.8 million acre land, but it had been closed in Rabi season owing to construction of its banks and stone ditching as a result wheat crops were irrigated through peter engine and tubewells.

The Institute of Food Sciences and Technologies, Agriculture University, Tandojam has organised a training course for farmers on chilli preservation method. Addressing the event, the Provincial Minister, Agriculture, Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, said that water shortage in Sindh has taken a serious form affecting the agriculture sector.

As scarcity of water has badly hit the country inflicting heavy damage to its industry and agriculture, the Punjab irrigation department has decided to launch massive crackdown against powerful