HYDERABAD, June 7: Growers have threatened to demonstrate and stage indefinite hunger strike if the government fails in releasing water into canals in 24 hours. This was said by the growers of Miran Kori Shakh, Bukherani sub-division, Tando Allahyar district in a press conference on Thursday.

They said that if water was not released within the given time then they would have no option but to stage protest demonstrations outside press club and the Sindh chief minister’s house and hunger strike unto death.

Mohammad Khan Kamboh, Rais Mehboob Khan Sirewal, Allahyar Khan Mandwani, Khamiso Unnar, Sher Khan Rind said the area had not received a drop of water for last 45 days and even drinking water was fetched from a distance of 8-10km.

Water scarcity was resulting in deaths of livestock they said and feared loss of tens of millions if the situation was not brought under control.

They criticized the non-responsive attitude of government officials and said that whatever water was released in the channel went to influential waderas.

They reiterated to protest and strike if their demands were not met in 24 hours and called for attachment of water rotation programme to Chakar Shakh from Zounr Shakh.

They demanded immediate closure of illegal outlets of waderas as standing crops on 15,000 acres were being seriously affected.