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HYDERABAD, May 13: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, here on Tuesday ordered the provincial irrigation department officials to remove unauthorised and illegal watercourses except those which involved litigation.
The order was passed on a constitutional petition filed by two growers, Abdul Ghafoor Mahar and Mohammad Soomar Mahar, through their council Yousuf Leghari, praying for removal of illegal watercourses.
The petitioners cited the secretary, irrigation; superintending engineer, Nara Canal circle; and executive engineer, Jamrao Canal; as respondents.
The petitioners said that their lands were located along the Mari Minor which was originally designed for 24 watercourses but later the watercourses were illegally increased to 46 with the connivance of the irrigation officials.
They said that respondent irrigation officials were supplying water to those watercourses which were not sanctioned.
The petitioners informed the court that percentage of land cultivated through unauthorised water courses was more than 70 per cent whereas that of their land was only five per cent.
They said that they were paying water and other taxes whereas the influential landlords did not pay taxes to the government.
The respondents were repeatedly informed about the irregularity by the petitioners but they did not take action and even did not check the watercourses which were running without approved designed of modules.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that respondents were bound to supply water to his clients under principle of equal and just distribution of water as they were supposed to run the Mari Minor in accordance with the Water Management Ordinance- 2002.
He accused irrigation officials of committing violation of articles 23 and 24 of Constitution which provided protection of rights to citizens.
The executive engineer, Jamrao division, in his comments informed the court that the Mari Minor was designed to irrigate 11,050 acres of land through 24 water courses but after extension of the waterway, some farmers illegally constructed 12 watercourses along the waterway and also filed a suit in a civil court.
He said that department did not approve those watercourses but due to litigation it could not close them.
KILLED: A landlord, Zahid Abbasi, was gunned down over a petty issue by Shoro tribesmen in Kahi Kohi Deh on Sunday night.
Zahid Abbasi was present at his farm, located at Darya Road, when his kamdar informed him that two Shoro tribesmen were bathing in front of his house. Abbasi immediately went there to ask them not to do so.
However, an argument started between both. The Shoros called their friends for help.
Soon, the Shoros opened fire killing Zahid on the spot.
The Kotri police registered a case against four Shoro tribesmen. The names of only three — Ashraf Punjabi, Khan Mohammad Shoro and Rafique — could be ascertained.
The police later picked up Ashraf and Rafique.
