KARACHI, June 12: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the irrigation secretary to ensure that water reached the tail-end growers in Khairpur, Gambo and other areas within 24 hours.

He also directed the secretary to ask irrigation officials to evolve a comprehensive strategy to stop water wastage and ensure availability of water to tail-end growers.

The chief minister issued these directives during a meeting with a delegation of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture at the CM House on Wednesday. The delegation included SCA president Dr Nadeem Qamar, general secretary Nabi Bux Sathio, Mir Zafarullah Talpur, Hameer Soomro and Abdul Jabbar Memon.

Referring to complaints of unjustified distribution of water, he warned the officials to take water shortage seriously and “negligence on part of any official will not be tolerated and action will be initiated against him”.

The delegation was informed that the Darwat Dam, initiated on the special directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, would soon be completed and 36,000 acres barren land would be made cultivable.—Staff Reporter