Acute shortage of irrigation water has affected 60 percent of the Kharif crops across district Thatta and the situation is likely to worsen following the annual closure of Kotri Barrage from 25 December to January 10.
According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, four Talukas of the district, including Mirpur Sakro, Thatto, Keti Bunder, and Gorabari, having a population of around one million, will face scarcity of drinking water as well during that period.
After not earning much from Rabi crops, the growers of Thatta had pinned their hopes on Kharif season, but the current state of affairs has shattered all their hopes as they fear substantial financial loss during this season.
Officials of the agriculture department told local reporters that all major arteries supplying water to the five Talukas of the district have entirely dried up, and Mirpur Sakro was the most affected area by this situation.
They further said that in different parts of the district, sowing of Kharif crops could not occur due to non-supply of the required quantity of water and added that wheat, sugarcane, and vegetables were scorching amid such a situation.
Agronomist Ohaiyo Khan Kaushik said that the district had been getting 2,300 cusecs water against its need of 9,100 cusecs, adding that the current flow was not enough to cater to the needs of such a vast population that primarily relied on agriculture as their prime source of earning.
Adeel Shah, an irrigation department official, revealed that around 15 percent of water was getting wasted from Jamshoro to Keenjhar Lake following improper maintenance of KB feeder and added that annual closures would be observed in Thatta for six days and eight days in Mirpur Sakro.
However, three freshwater lakes of the district – Hudero, Haleji, and Keenjar – were getting polluted water in the current situation.
