March 6, 2002	Wednesday	Zilhaj 21, 1422

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MIRPURKHAS, March 5: The Sindh secretary, Irrigation and Power, Mir M. Parhiyar, has asked growers and landlords to present the cases of water mismanagement at the Nara canal.

He was responding to the complaints of growers at a meeting here on Sunday.

He said that they could file the cases at the Sukkur Barrage and show it to him so that he could take legal action against those officers of the irrigation department who were involved in mismanagement of water.

He said that the growers should present the proof against the installation of illegal pumping machines on the banks of the Nara canal in Khairpur district.

The growers complained about the irresponsible attitude of the irrigation department officials, non-implementation of rotation programme, cases of discrimination against the growers and sale of water by irrigation officials.

The secretary directed the officers to change their attitude and resolve the problems of the growers, run rotation programme properly and take stern action against the officials involved in tampering the modules of water courses.

He assured the growers that the water share would be given to the Nara canal and asked the director, Nara Canal, Zafar Laghari to send a senior officer to the Sukkur Barrage to check the water gauge.

He also assured them of judicious distribution of water.

The district Nazim, Pir Shafqat Hussain Shah Jilani said that information regarding the availability of water from April 1 for Kharif crops should be provided as early as possible.

The growers complained about the water theft in collusion with the irrigation officials and the non-availability of their share of water in the Nara canal.

They demanded the transfer of Rafique Memon, director of the Nara Canal.