DADU, June 15: The growers of Dadu district have appealed to the government of Sindh to stop discharging the saline water of the Main Nara Valley into the Manchhar Lake to save fish and birds and the natural beauty of the lake.

The demand was made at a meeting of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, Dadu, on Sunday. It was presided over by Ghulam Ali Khan Shahani.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shahani said that the saline water of the Main Nara Valley was destroying the natural beauty of the lake and it was extremely harmful for fish and birds as many species of both had died.

He said that 75 per cent fishermen of the Manchhar Lake had migrated to other areas of Sindh as the major portion of the lake had dried up and what was left had become toxic.

A grower of Dadu Taluka, Mohammad Amin Panhwar, said that the government of Sindh and donor agencies should pay attention to the lake to preserve fish and birds and the natural beauty of the lake.

He said that the government should relocate all the fishermen of Manchhar Lake on an emergency basis.

Speaking on the occasion, another grower, Mohammad Khan Jangwani, of Johi Taluka, said that the water shortage had severely affected the current seasonal crops in Dadu district.

He said that the influential landlords at the head of the Dadu Canal with the connivance of irrigation officials were stealing irrigation water; hence, the majority of waterways originating from the Dadu Canal and Johi Branch had dried up, especially in Sehwan, Johi and Dadu Talukas.

He said that due to the negligence of the district administration, the Dadu Sugar Mill, Piaro Goth, had been closed and around Rs10 million had yet to be paid to the growers of Dadu district.

A grower of Khairpur Nathan Shah Taluka, Abid Hussain, said that a campaign would soon be launched throughout the district against the artificial shortage of water in Dadu district.

Later, seven conveners, one for each Taluka of Dadu district, were elected. They included Mohammad Amin Panhwar for Dadu Taluka, Mohammad Khan Jangwani for Johi Taluka and Hadi Bux Shah for Sehwan.