January 20, 2006	Friday	Zilhaj 19, 1426

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SUKKUR, Jan 19: Brig (rtd) Abdul Haq, vice chairman of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority, has called upon farmers to form watercourse associations to struggle jointly for bringing change in the irrigation system. Speaking at a gathering of representatives of farmers’ organizations held in Ghotki on Thursday, he said that Sida wanted powers of bureaucrats to be transferred to farmers.

The gathering was arranged by the Media and Communication section of Sida.

He said that the system was indigenous one and was functioning successfully in India and other countries.

He said that when there were cloth merchant associations and truck-owners associations, why could watercourse associations be not formed by farmers?

He said that there were about 45,000 watercourses in Sindh, of which so far only 6,000 had been lined during last 50 years while 39,000 were yet to be lined.

For the purpose, he said, SOFWM project as well as a national programme had been launched by the government.

Ghulam Hassan Chachar, G.N. Mughul, Prof Aijaz Qureshi, Maula Bux Mirbahar, Mian Mohammad Sharif, Sher Mohammad Maher, Dr Nisar Memon and Nazir Essani spoke on the occasion.