May 24, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

SANGHAR, May 23: Crop on 250 acres came under water because of a 200-foot wide breach occurred in Ujano Shakh (canal) on Friday near Gahi Zardari village in Sarhari area, inundating crops over 250 acres of land.

People from surrounding villages plugged the breach with the help of tractors. Later, they protested against irrigation officials and held them responsible for the breach. They said so far no irrigation official had reached to supervise plugging of the breach.

They alleged Mehmood Ali Chandio, Darogha of the Irrigation Department of creating obstruction in the flow of water to provide extra water to landlords which caused the breach.

On Thursday about 100-foot breach occurred in Khipro Canal near Bagh Ali Jatoi village in the Teranh Meel area. More than a dozen villages and crops over hundreds of acres were affected.

Hundreds of people, including women and children, shifted to safe places after their entire belongings - including precious wheat and flour stocks - came under water.

Officials of district administration, Irrigation Department and elected representatives reached the spot while machinery and equipments, empty gunny bags were also made available at the site. Hundreds of villagers also joined the efforts to plug the breach.

Water supply to Khipro canal was stopped from Nara canal at Poksari regulator to slow down the speed of gushing water at breach point.

The SDO Irrigation, Niaz Memon told reporters that there was a small leakage next to the wall of a water course module which originates from the canal. He said water eroded the foundation of wall and it collapsed as a result the breach occurred in main canal.

General Secretary, Small Growers Association, Hassan Askari complained that while there was 60 per cent shortage of irrigation water, how could such a big breach in the main canal occur.

He said billions of rupees were spent to strengthen the embankments of canals but there were breaches while water was deficient and canals flowing at ebb and strict water rotation being followed.