DERA GHAZI KHAN

Cotton growers suffer due to lack of irrigation water

From Hasnain Qaisrani

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Cotton growers are facing several problems as the Wapda has allegedly failed to provide water for irrigation according to sanctioned discharge in Chashma Right Bank Canal.

The canal, which irrigates the most barren lands of Taunsa Sharif tehsil and the tail end of Dera Ghazi Khan tehsil, is controlled by Wapda while in the Punjab, the Provincial Irrigation Department manages its distribution. The canal derived from Chashma Barrage over the Indus is facing chronic water shortage in the peak season.

According to the data, the Punjab is hardly getting 700 to 900 cusecs against the sanctioned and designed discharge of 1,750 cusecs for its 250,000 acres while the KP is regularly getting its due share from the canal, which irrigates western belt of Dera Ismail Khan district.

The farmers are of the view that the water shortage would hit the crop of this backward area. They say that the local parliamentarians could not present their case property before Wapda authorities. The farmers say that the underground water is costly because it is available below the depth of 300 feet. The cost is beyond capacity of the smaller farmers, the farmers add.

The farmers have demanded the provincial government take up the issue with Wapda and solve it permanently otherwise the bumper cotton crop of this area would no longer be available.