October 23, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1429

HYDERABAD, Oct 22: Hundreds of growers of Tandojam, Detha, Usman Shah, Tando Qaiser and adjoining areas staged a protest demonstration on Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road in Tandojam on Wednesday. As a result, the road remained blocked for vehicular traffic for more than two hours.

They were protesting against an acute shortage of water in Rahuki Shakh. The angry growers burnt tyres on the road and raised slogans against the irrigation officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahmed Khan Shaikh, Nizam Khoso, Abdul Aziz Umrani and other farmers alleged that corrupt irrigation officials had created an artificial shortage of water in Rahuki Shakh. They said that tail-end growers were not getting any water and their crops were being destroyed and alleged that water was being sold to influential landlords.

Irrigation engineer Ikramullah also reached the spot and held negotiations with the growers.

Local PPP leader Syed Roshan Shah mediated between the growers and irrigation officials. The growers called off their protest after an assurance by the irrigation officials that water would be released into Rahuki Shakh.