June 5, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23,1423

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SHEIKHUPURA, June 4: Several houses were damaged and sugar cane crops inundated in Khurd and Kalan localities on Tuesday when at least 75-foot breach was developed in Upper Gogera Branch Canalnear Chak 5, some 50km from here.

Reports said the irrigation department officials suspected a subversive act which played havoc with villages closer to Chak 5.

Talking to this correspondent, Irrigation Chief Engineer Anwar Khan claimed both banks of the canal were strong enough to sustain gush of water. He suspected some influential landlords might have a hand in it to make up for the shortage of irrigation water. An intimation had been given to Nankana DSP, he added.

The official said he had ordered the staff concerned to plug the breach without delay.

Meanwhile, residents in these localities claimed the breach occurred owing to the negligence of the irrigation department.

They alleged some officials had already misappropriated the funds for canal repairs, rejecting the department’s version that some landlords had been involved.

Gogera Branch XEN Naeem Javed Chauhan termed the incident an act to create harassment. He suspected some ruffians in the locality had planned the act to create panic.

Investigation to ascertain the real cause of breach had been started, he added.