TOBA TEK SINGH, Oct 24: Former PPP MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq, Pakistan Kissan Committee president Fateh Muhammad and National Workers Party district president Rana Azam have expressed their concern over the continuous shortage of irrigation water in the area.

In a joint press statement, they said fodder and edible oil crops needed a large quantity of water and the system of ‘warabandi’ (rotation) would damage their crops.

They said the subsoil water was already brackish in the area and cultivators and their cattle were forced to use the water for drinking which was causing abdominal diseases.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Dabanwala farmers held at the local agriculture department office has protested against the closure of Jhang and Gogera canal branches in the district since Oct 10.