MIRPURKHAS, July 13: Sindh Minister for Irrigation Nadir Akmal Laghari has said that stern legal action would be taken against the landlords and irrigation officials involved in water theft.

He said raids would be conducted in the tail-end areas of distributaries to stop water theft.

Helipads were being constructed at the tail-ends of canals and distributaries for conducting sudden raids by high officials, including the chief minister.

Presiding over a meeting of the elected representatives, farmers and officers at the circuit house on Wednesday, he directed the Nara Canal Area Water Board director to maintain close liaison with the elected representatives and growers for apprising them about real situation of water availability in the canals and redress their grievances.

He directed officers to ensure supply of water to the tail-end farmers. He lamented that the past governments had sanctioned thousands of direct outlets from canals which created problems.—Correspondent