SANGHAR, June 3: A large number of farmers of Toori Minor staged a sit-in near Bakhoro regulator on Tuesday to protest against water rotation programme being implemented by the irrigation department.

They also forcibly opened the gate of the waterway which was later closed by the irrigation employees.

The growers also held a protest demonstration outside the Sanghar Press Club.

Talking to journalists, the growers’ representatives, Ahmed Khan Nizamani and Sawan Khan, said that Toori Minor of Sanghar irrigation sub-division was closed without any schedule and prior information to the growers.

They said that the Sindh irrigation minister and secretary had repeatedly said that there would be only eight per cent shortage of water in Sindh in Kharif season but the irrigation officials insisted that water shortage was more than 50 per cent and suspended supply to outlets after each eight days.

The growers said that Mithrao Canal was flowing to its full capacity and due to closure of its outlets, water was overflowing but even then farmers were deprived of their due share of water.

They said that the growers of Toori Minor were specifically targeted because they had lodged a complaint with the provincial irrigation minister against the irrigation officials.

The farmers alleged that the sub-divisional officer, irrigation department, was demanding bribe from the growers for releasing water.

They threatened that if water was not released in Toori Minor in 48 hours, they would block Sanghar-Mirpurkhas road.