BADIN: Water theft - Officials, landlords warned - Rahim meets farmers, nazims
By Our Correspondent
BADIN, June 17: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that lapses in the distribution of irrigation water in tail-end areas will be examined.
Addressing a gathering of farmers, officers, nazims and notables at the Pangrio sugar mills on Thursday, he warned corrupt irrigation department officials that they should mend their ways or face strict action.
Mr Arbab said that investigation would be conducted to see how 60 per cent water in the Indus river was being utilized. He said that those influential landlords who got their 50 or 100 per cent lands cultivated through illegal source of water would also face action.
He warned the irrigation officials to ensure water supply upto the tail-end of channels through effective rotation system. The meeting was turned into an open kutchehry. Most of the complaints were against the revenue department officials for forcible recovery of the land revenue.
The chief minister ordered the revenue officials to keep with them the rain gauge to know the facts of cultivation. He also directed the revenue officials not to unnecessary annoy the growers. He assured the people that he would bring loan recovery problems before the president.
Responding to the people's demands, Arbab said, "I plainly define that I have taken over as the chief executive of the province to provide peaceful atmosphere to the people".
He directed the police officials that theft of cattle and other crimes should not take place within their jurisdiction else they would be held responsible. He made it clear that lawlessness would not be tolerated and warned that if strict measures to ensure peace and tranquillity were not taken, officials concerned would not be spared of punishment.
The chief minister inspected spots of breaches occurred in the Bahadur wah and gave a cheque of Rs10,000 to a peasant whose paddy was inundated by the breach water. The chief minister said that the government was committed to give importance to communication network and sanctioned ten schemes for the construction and widening of roads in the district.
He said that the irrigation bureaucrats for creating confrontation between the two provinces over water issue, only to cover their own lapses. He directed the police officials to prepare list of patharidars and make sure the action against the criminals was taken without fail.
The chief minister instructed the irrigation officials to remove illegal encroachments and constructions from the banks of canals. Later, the chief minister while talking to journalists said that he was a powerful chief minister and could prosecute powerful criminals through military courts without delay.
He said that legislators were competent to amend the rules for speedy trials. Replying to a question, the chief minister said that he had apprised the president about the aspirations of people of the provinces who wanted solution of the shortage of irrigation water.
Earlier, the chief minister held a meeting with Sida officials and directed them to plug the breaches in LBOD in 15 days for which huge amount was released. He said that no leniency would be tolerated in this regard.
Later, the chief minister arrived at the Qubalai Chak and directed the district government for upgradation of health dispensary. The chief minister said an amount of Rs12 million was released for the rain victims and he would distribute cheques of compensation soon. MPA Ali Bux Shah alias Papoo Shah and district Nazim Kamal Chang also spoke on the occasion.
