DADU, Oct 31: Two irrigation officials, Sub-engineer Abdul Khaliq Panhwar and Darogha Fateh Mohammad Solangi, of the Bolari Minor have been suspended on charges of selling irrigation water to influential landlords.

The chief engineer, Sukkur Barrage, Ghulam Nabi Mughal, said this while speaking at a press conference on Friday.

He said that a six-member committee, including representatives of growers, has been constituted to monitor distribution of water.

He said that tail-end growers of the Bolari Minor, Haji Ali Mohammad Pahore, Mohammad Ayub Burdi, Mian Abdullah Shaikh, Ali Mohammad Ghamach, the engineer, Naseer division, Zafar Leghari, and the SDO concerned would be the members of the committee.

He said that this committee would conduct raids at different parts of the Bolari Minor Shakh to control water theft.

He said that repair work at different parts of the Bolari Minor was carried out 25 years back but due to paucity of funds work at the head of the minor could not be completed; hence, tail-end growers were facing shortage of water.

He said that senior officials have been asked to provide funds so that the remaining work could be completed.

Referring to revamping programme of barrage and canals of the Sukkur barrage, he said that revamping would be initiated at all the canals to improve the collapsed irrigation system in November 2003.

He said that he had sent a proposal for development works amounting Rs1,645 million.

He disclosed that Rs400 million were provided to the irrigation department to start work in the first phase.

He said that Rs102 million would be used for the Khairpur irrigation circle, and Rs273 million for the Rohri canal circle.

He said that as soon as the revamping programme is implemented, water would be provided to all the growers.

He said that Rs78.50 million would be used on western Sindh circle along with the Dadu and Rice canals, Rs86 million would be used on Saifullah Magsi circle for the western canal, and Rs8.60 million for repairing machinery of the irrigation department.

He said that remodelling of the Dadu Canal would be initiated with the aid of the Japanese government.

PROTEST: Doctors, paramedical staff and health officials boycotted OPDs at the Civil Hospital Dadu, Taluka hospitals and health centres on the fourth consecutive day on Friday to protest against the attack on the civil surgeon, Dadu, and other senior officers.