January 24, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 14, 1429

HYDERABAD, Jan 23: Tando Mohammad Khan District Bar Association president and agriculture expert Abdul Hakeem Memon has said that the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida) is not paying attention to repairs, maintenance and remodelling of canals, branches and distributaries which may cause acute shortage of irrigation water.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club on Wednesday, he said that canals’ saline water drains had not been de-silted after recent rains, adding that saline water was overflowing and entering crops field, causing damages to standing crops.

He demanded of government to set up an army camp for three months to inspect canals, branches and saline water drains and ensure their immediate repairs. He warned that abadgars of Tando Mohammad Khan would launch a protest movement if Sida failed to carry out the repair work.

KILLED: A labourer was killed when a gas cylinder exploded at an oilfield in Tando Mohammad Khan on Thursday night. Aftab son of Nihal Jamali received 95 per cent burn injuries and died on the spot. He was resident of the Haji Ameer Bux Jamali village.