March 19, 2006	Sunday	Safar 18, 1427

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SUKKUR, March 18: The indefinite hunger strike of farmers belonging to the Sobhodero taluka came to an end on the 13th day on Saturday after the government agreed to close four illegal sluices out of seven. A tripartite agreement was signed in this connection between farmers, members of the team constituted by Sindh Irrigation Minister Nadir Akmal Leghari and officials of the irrigation department, including the chief engineer of the Sukkur Barrage, Mr Mohammed Nawaz Memon.

The farmers had started indefinite hunger strike on March 7 outside the Sukkur Press Club in protest against water shortage in shakhs originating the Faiz Wah canal and drawing of water through illegal sluices by some influential landlords of the area.

The ministerial team comprised Zafarullah Mahar, Ghulam Hussain Chachar, the chairman of the Area Water Board, Ghotki, Sharifullah Leghari, PS to the irrigation minister, and Munawwar Ali Bozdar, the executive engineer of the Rice Canal division.

It was mutually decided that instead of all seven sluices, four would be closed while remaining three would run under a settled agreement.

The maximum available water will be distributed among all five pipes to the extent of 40 cusecs only.

A gauge of four feet diameter may be sanctioned to supplementing from Naulakhi Minor to Mehrab and Machar Minor.

It was agreed that grievances of the affected farmers would be forwarded to the competent authority after technical assessment and the case would be sanctioned within one month or so.

The design discharge of the Mehrab Wah may not be reduced.

Remodelling of the Khairpur Feeder West system may be carried out.

The superintendent engineer said that work was already included in the ADP which stands approved from the PDWP therefore it would be carried out accordingly.

Illegal pipes and watercourses of the Faiz Wah canal and its off taking channels of the Jadi section may be removed and tempered watercourses may also be rectified to ensure equitable distribution of water as per required gauges.

Accepting the demand, the chief engineer of the Sukkur barrage’s letter was referred under which the time period is given as 15 days.

About 12 watercourses on the Faiz Wah canal system are sanctioned as paddy watercourses and these may be brought on dry crop as there is section 144 imposed in the district for cultivation of paddy and the case already been submitted to the secretary irrigation and power.

The growers were told that the secretary irrigation was being approached for cancellation of about 1 L parallel watercourses and paddy watercourses.

All the twelve minors may be de-silted.

The demand was agreed as per technical requirements in the current financial year.

The growers were told that the chief engineer might take appropriate action and the budget would be sanctioned in the financial year 2006-07.

To supplement Garkano shakh, a regulator and carry over channel would be constructed from Qazi Bhutta Dhandh (lake) towards Garkano wah in water deficient period for the Kharif season.

Accepting the demand, it was told that a technical study would be carried out and the proposal would be forwarded to the government subject to its viability and budget would be provided in the ADP 2006-07.

The agreement was signed by all committee members including Zafarullah Mahar, Ghulam Hussain Chachar, Sharifullah Leghari, Munawwar Ali Bozdar, and irrigation officials Mohammad Nawaz Memon, the chief engineer of the Sukkur Barrage, Mohammad Haroon Memon, superintendent engineer, and Bhai Khan Lakho, executive engineer.

About 10 leaders of the farmers signed the agreement. They are: Haji Shahdad Bhagat, the chairman of the Abadgar Action Committee, Dr Abdul Fatah Memon, Shamsuddin Abbasi and others.