MIRPURKHAS, Dec 5: The local growers have demanded forming of a forum to hear their complaints against the irrigation officials and take action against them. permanent

Talking to this correspondent here on Monday, a group of the farmers said shortage of water, coupled with mismanagement by the irrigation officials, was adversely affecting wheat sowing in command area of the Nara Canal.

This was bound to affect wheat production in command area of the canal, which had been producing more wheat as compared to other areas of Sindh, they said.

The growers said they had prepared their fields for wheat sowing but non-implementation of the rotation programme had made the situation worse.

The extension of a one-week water rotation programme to two weeks had also caused water storage at the tail-end areas of Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar canals, they concluded.

Demo: A group of residents of Abdul Wahid Bhurgari village staged a demonstration here on Monday against arrest of nine villagers by the Kot Ghulam Mohammad police.

Carrying banners and placards and raising slogans against the police, the protesters demanded immediate release of the villagers.

Speaking at the rally, their representative, Khan Dal, said the police had arrested nine villagers without any reason.