BADIN: Small growers supported by some local activists of the Pakistan Peoples Party on Tuesday embarrassed the irrigation secretary and other officials at a function at the local Circuit House where Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had just ended his speech.

The ugly scenes were witnessed as soon as irrigation secretary Babar Effendi was called to the stage to explain measures to be taken by the government in the light of a meeting between growers’ representatives and elected mem­bers of the Sindh Irriga­tion and Drainage Authority (Sida).

Growers within the audience started shouting that the secretary had always been telling lies on issues. Amid a complete mess, PPP activists from Tando Bago Dilbar Sindhi and Khalil Bhurgari jumped on to the stage and snatched the microphone from an official to prevent it from being handed over to Mr Effendi.

The activists then loudly and forcefully pleaded the case of small growers with regard to water theft from Badin canals by influential people.

Besides the chief minister, MNA Kamal Khan Chang and MPAs Mir Allah Bux Talpur, Muham­mad Nawaz Chandio and Barrister Husnain Mirza were also present.

Earlier, in his speech the chief minister kept assuring growers of a permanent solution to the chronic issue of water shortage in the tail-end areas. He also promised to get water theft checked. How­ever, growers continued to raise slogans against irrigation officials during his speech.

Umerkot

Speaking to growers and irrigation officials at a gathering in Manjharkar village near Kunri, the chief minister admitted that water shortage in Sindh was artificial or a result of official mismanagement.

“I hold myself responsible for the situation,” he declared, and warned the officials concerned to mend their ways or face stern action.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd , 2014