0
HYDERABAD, April 1: The Sindh Abadgar Board has expressed concern over the step-motherly treatment being meted out to the agriculture sector and invited attention of the government to crises of wheat, sugar and edible oil.
It urged the government to fix prices of agriculture commodities in consultation with growers and industrialists and ensure payment within reasonable period.
A monthly meeting of the board held here on Saturday, discussed problems of the agriculture sector and heard complaints of growers.
The meeting was presided over by board president Abdul Majeed Nizamani and attended by growers’ representatives from all over Sindh.
Speaking at the meeting, superintending engineer, Rohri Canal circle, Ghulam Hussain Leghari, who attended the meeting on special invitation, said the capacity of the Rohri Canal would be increased within three years where after it would be able to carry 1,000 to 1,500 cusecs more water.
Referring to complaints about non-desilting of various channels, he said desilting of channels, especially the Chakar Shakh, would be carried out soon.
He assured growers that efforts would be made to eliminate water theft and ensure supply of water to tail-end growers.
He conceded that team work was missing in the irrigation department and added that there were also other bottlenecks due to which problems of growers were not being resolved.
Mr Nizamani said growers were suffering due to lack of team work in agriculture and irrigation departments, political interference and other bottlenecks.
The meeting alleged that the bureaucracy was protecting black-marketers, smugglers and import mafia in return for huge bribes.
The board thanked the Sindh chief minister for increasing the purchase target of wheat from 600,000 to 700,000 tons.
It demanded that a wheat purchasing centre should be established without delay and the food department should be directed to immediately arrange gunny bags.
It also demanded that the 1991 water accord should be implemented in letter and spirit, water flow in the Rohri Canal should be improved, supply of water to tail-end growers should be ensured, the water rotation programme should be ended and recruitment of inefficient people should be stopped forthwith.
POLIO: Tando Mohammad Khan District Nazim Mir Inayat Ali Khan Talpur presided over a meeting on Friday to discuss arrangements for the next anti-polio campaign in the district.
Dr Azmodeh, Dr Anila Qureshi of WHO and other officials concerned attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anila sought cooperation of the community and elected representatives to make the campaign a success.
MUSHAIRA: Poets from Australia, India, the UK and America enthralled audience with their satirical, humorous and serious poetry at “Hyderabad Alami Mushaira” which began at 11:00pm on Thursday and continued till dawn of Friday, reports our correspondent.
The Mushaira, organised by district government, was held on the lawns of old Deputy Commissioner House and the venue was illuminated with colourful lights with a giant stage in the centre.
The audience included among others District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil, Federal Minister for Housing Safwanullah, DCO Sharif Awan, and Mutahedda Qaumi Movement (MPAs). The media gallery remained occupied by unrelated persons throughout the Mushaira.
Renowned poet Muneer Niazi who was supposed to preside over the proceedings was indisposed. He was replaced by Mohsin Bhopali who presided over the Mushaira only to leave it halfway citing illness.
