November 24, 2002	Sunday	Ramazan 18, 1423

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MIRPURKHAS, Nov 23: There is an urgent need for judicious distribution of water resources as the area of cultivated land has increased by comparison with previous years despite acute shortage of water.

This was stated by the chairman of the Sindh Irrigation Drainage Authority (SIDA), Brig (retd) Abdul Haq, during the ceremony held to hand over 34 irrigation channels to farmers’ organisations.

The handing over of water channels was held under the participatory irrigation management by the Nara Canal Area Water Board in collaboration with the provincial social development cell.

Stressing on the need to educate the farmers to reduce water theft and losses, he said that reforms, being implemented in the irrigation department, would bring revolutionary changes in the agricultural sector.

He attributed the poor condition of the irrigation system to untrained farmers, who had been allowed to run distributaries.

Stressing on the need for greater participation of farmers, he said that the new irrigation system would redress their grievances at the local level.

Urging the growers to root out corruption from the water distribution system, he said that it was vital for a better future.

He further said that the government would allocate more funds for the success of this system and assured the farmers of redressal of their grievances by the area water boards.

Later, other officials urged the farmers’ organisations to set up their offices for assessment and timely collection of the Abiyana.

They also said that the Chotiariyoon Dam was about to be completed and currently 400 cusecs of water was being stored in it from the Nara Canal.

The water supply to the dam, they added, would be cut off to cover the water shortage during the heat sowing season.

Farmers demanded of the irrigation officials to ensure adequate water supply during the wheat sowing season enabling the farmers to meet the government’s target besides ensuring proper water supply to the tail-enders.

Later, the journalists and office bearers of the farmers’ organisations were briefed by the Institutional Reforms Consultant, George Hartman, the social development specialist, SIDA, Nazeer Ahmed Memon, and the director, Nara Canal Area Water Board, Agha Aijaz Ahmed Khan.