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SANGHAR, May 25: The farming community of the district has deplored closure of Jamrao, Mithrao and Khipro canals under water rotation programme.
During a survey conducted by this correspondent, Hassand Askari and Mir Nizamani of the Small Growers Association, Samo Dahri of the Sindh Abadgar Board and other growers of the area said that there was an adequate supply of water from the Indus but corrupt officials of the irrigation department had created an artificial water shortage to extort money.
They said that the Nara Canal, from which water was supplied to Jamrao, Khipro and Mithrao canals, was overflowing but the officials had imposed an unscheduled water rotation programme of the canals.
They added that in many cases even high officials of the department had been kept in darkness about the prevailing rotation programme.
The growers alleged that the Dim Wah of the Khadro sub- division was closed without any prior notice to the growers on the pretext of road construction near Ghundaro.
The farmers said that it was a crucial period for cotton sowing which was going on in full swing. They added that most of the farmers were planting cotton on ridges, a method which requires second watering in a week. If there was short supply of water, sprinkled cotton seed will die, they concluded.
TRUCK: The Tando Adam police on Friday night found an abandoned truck loaded with furniture and other articles on a bypass road near Tando Adam.
The truck was brought to the police station.
PROCESSION: More than 200 people took out a procession here on Saturday to protest against the anti-encroachment drive launched by the Pakistan Railways, Tando Adam.
After marching through the main roads, the protesters gathered outside the local press club. Talking to newsmen, the protesters said they were living there since 50 years and many of them had purchased the houses and the railway authorities had been issuing them NOCs for power, telephone and gas connections.
