NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, July 29: About 150 growers held a demonstration in Bhirya City on Sunday in protest against an influential landlord using force to stop release of water into a watercourse.

Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Rahim and other residents of Rano Rajpar Goth and adjoining villages accused the landlord of closing the watercourse-1 at RD-18 of Sangi minor canal at gunpoint a week ago to supply more water to his nearby land. As a result, they said, sugarcane, cotton and rice crops on 600 acres of land were getting no water and showing no sign of growth.

They said they had made several complaints to SDO Abdul Jabbar Memon of the irrigation department but he had taken no action.

They appealed to the irrigation authorities to intervene and ensure resumption of supply to the watercourse. They said that their crops would be destroyed if water was not released immediately.

SDO Memon could not be contacted despite efforts.