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| April 16, 2003 | Wednesday | Safar 13, 1424 |
Water shortage stirs strike in Badin dist
BADIN, April 15: A complete strike was observed in different parts of Badin district to protest against water shortage in the area canals.
Shops, business centres and markets remained closed in Badin, Seerani, Kadhan, Nindo Shahar and other towns of the district.
The strike was called by the Badin Water Committee and supported by the traders’ organizations and political activists of the district.
Early in morning, hundreds of farmers began reaching here in tractor trolleys and other vehicles to join a protest rally, which was organized by the Nazims of the 12 union councils of Badin taluka.
The protesters gathered at the Qatar Masjid roundabout.
Later, thousands of the protesters after marching thorough main roads of the town, staged a sit-in at the DCO Chowk.
The protesters were led by People’s Party Parliamentarians MNA Dr Fehmida Mirza, MPA Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro, Badin Taluka Nazim Syed Zafar Shah and the district public safety commission chairman,
The protesters were raising slogans against the irrigation officers and also burnt effigies of the irrigation officials.
The farmers and activists also burnt tyres at different points of the town and blocked the roads.
As a result, traffic remained suspended on roads leading to Karachi, Hyderabad and the adjoining towns.
Speaking at the rally, Dr Fehmida said that the irrigation department had failed in judicious distribution of water.
Dr Mandhro said that he had raised the issue of water shortage in Sindh Assembly but to no avail.
The rally, through resolutions, demanded desilting of the waterways in the district and regular water supply in the minors and distributaries of the district for at least one year.
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