TOBA TEK SINGH, Oct 7: Hundreds of farmers belonging to many villages at the tail-end of the Lower Jhang branch canal demonstrated in the district courts complex on Saturday to protest against shortage of irrigation water.

Holding banners and placards emblazoned with slogans and their demand for the irrigation water supply to the villages, they assembled in the district courts where they chanted slogans.

Later, a delegation of farmers, led by former district council member Abdul Basit, former Chutiana Markazi council chairman Chaudhry Hafiz and others, called on DCO Nawazish Ali, informing him that that the orchards and crops at Chaks 405-JB, 406-JB, 407-JB, 408-JB, 409-JB, 410-JB and 411-JB had dried up owing to the water shortage.

Even drinking water was not available as the subsoil water was brackish and unfit for consumption, they said.

The DCO contacted the SE (west circle), Faisalabad, and apprised him of the growers’ concern. He assured the delegation that their demand would be met at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Kissan Committee president Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad, National Workers Party district president (advocate) Rana Muhammad Azam and former MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq stated in a press statement that the irrigation water closure in October would do a great deal of damage to various crops.

The water closure programme from Oct 10 to Oct 25 was unjustified because maize, sugarcane and fodder crops required water these days. The farmers would be unable to sow vegetables, canola and fodder crops.

They further contended that the closure of canals was not justified as dams were already full.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH: A Khanewal patrol police head constable was killed when a truck hit his motorcycle near Arouti on Pirmahal-Abdul Hakeem Road on Saturday.