LARKANA: Growers concerned held a demonstration on Friday against acute shortage of water in Ghar Wah and its offshoots and blocked roads at Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women on Friday. Raising slogans against the irrigation staff, they burnt tyres.

They said paddy nurseries were being damaged while the seedlings transplantation had become late, which would severely affect the production.

They demanded early supply of water to save the paddy crop from devastation.

The SHO of Waleed police intervened and restored the traffic.

Later, they demonstrated outside the office of executive engineer of Rice Canal.

PROCESSION: Workers of the Watan Dost Mazdoor Federation took out a procession against shortage of irrigation water and an increase in petroleum prices.

The procession originated from its main office at Lahori Regulator. After marching on main thoroughfares, the procession turned into a rally and demonstrated outside the local press club.

Speaking on the occasion, protesters called for an early release of water in the irrigation channels of Rice Canal and Warah branch. The shortage was not only delaying the paddy plantation, but also increasing the risk of pest attack on the crop, they said.

In Qambar, growers and activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz took out a procession against the shortage of water in Warah branch, Norang wah, Noor wah, Panhwaro, Khan wah and irrigation channels supplying water to land in Qambar and Warah talukas.

Carrying dried-up paddy seedlings, they marched on the main roads of the town and surrounded the office of the DSO irrigation.

But the SDO did not meet protesters and left the office.

Later, they assembled at Martyrs’ Square and in their speeches said farmers had sustained huge losses during the previous paddy crop when heavy rains had severely damaged the produce.

They urged the government for early release of water to irrigate the required area.