August 19, 2008	Tuesday	Sha’aban 16, 1429

NAWABSHAH, Aug 18: Growers of Khiyaroon minor, Nusrat irrigation division, held a demonstration and observed token hunger strike in front of the press club on Monday against acute shortage of water.

Tail-end growers, including Mohammad Ismail, councillor UC Gupchhani, Pir Jan, Rais Dad Mohammad, Mohammad Azam and Wahab Zardari told journalists that there was no water in the tail of the minor for three months.

They further said that their cotton and vegetable crops were almost dried up due to non-availability of water. They said that they had approached the engineer but to no avail.

They alleged that the influential landlords were stealing water by tempering with modules and when they approached the police, they were also denied of legal help.

They said that almost 100 acres of land was adversely affected due to non-serious attitude of the irrigation officials to which they were sustaining huge economic loss.

They demanded of the chief minister and irrigation minister to take notice of the worsening situation and direct the irrigation department to provide them water.