TOBA TEK SINGH, Aug 29: A breach in Bhawana minor of Jhang Branch Canal on Tuesday night inundated crops standing on hundreds of acres near Gojra. The minor canal had a 25-foot wide breach near Chak 238 JB, which was later plugged by the Irrigation Department staff and farmers. Meanwhile, Irrigation Employees’ Union leader, Allah Bakhsh Sial, has alleged that influential farmers created the breach.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Sial said influential farmers had created similar breaches in Dhoka, Sultan Pakhra, Feeder, Bhangoo and Jhang Branch canals during the last two weeks but the district administration and local police were indifferent. As a result, the department and farmers suffered a loss worth millions of rupees as well as tail-enders were deprived of their due water share, he added. Mr Sial demanded immediate arrest of water thieves.

He also urged Irrigation high-ups to fill the vacant posts of lower grade staff so that abundant staff could be deputed on canal banks and water thieves could be taken to the task. — Correspondent