January 4, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 19, 1422

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DADU, Jan 3: Growers held protests in Johi and Dadu on Thursday to protest against the artificial water shortage.

A large number of growers of Johi Taluka held a demonstration in front of the Johi Press Club to protest against the artificial water shortage in various waterways which originated from the Johi barrage.

The demonstrators carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the irrigation officials.

They were led by the chairman of the Abadgar Association, Ghulam Qadir Rind, and Nazim, Union Chhinni, Ghulam Ali Khan Shahani.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club, Mr Rind and Mr Shahani said that the influential landlords of the area with the connivance of some “corrupt irrigation officials” had tampered with all the watercourses/modules of waterways No6 to No9, Cheejani waterway, Dara, Machhi, Patoro, and 20 others, which originated from the Johi canal.

They alleged that the irrigation officials were receiving huge amounts as bribe from the landlords and were not ready to take any action against them.

They regretted that due to artificial shortage of water in Johi Taluka tail-end growers had been unable to sow wheat on thousands of acres during the current season.

PROTEST IN DADU: A large number of growers of Dadu and Sehwan Sharif talukas held a demonstration in front of the Dadu Press Club to protest against the artificial shortage of water in the waterways originating from the Dadu canal.

The growers were led by M. Aslam Babar.

Speaking to newsmen, Mr Babar said that the local irrigation officials were allegedly selling the share of small growers to the influential landlords.

He appealed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf to direct the officials of the NAB to investigate the matter and also direct the district Nazim, Dadu, to provide them justice.

PAT GROWERS: A large number of growers of Pat and Sita sub-division irrigation protested in front of the offices of the SDOs concerned against the artificial shortage of water.

They demanded an investigation into the water shortage.