HYDERABAD, June 30: Growers of Massu irrigation sub-division, Hyderabad taluka, held a protest demonstration and observed a hunger strike outside the press club here on Monday against non-availability of water in Rahuki, Husri, Saeed Khan, Hatri and Jam channels.

Speaking on the occasion, Nisar Gadhi, Allah Bachayo Zounr, Ali Ahmad Leghari and other growers complained that the superintending engineer, Rohri circle, had started rotation programme although the main canals were flowing to their capacity.

They said they had been holding protest demonstrations and observing hunger strikes since June 24 against the acute shortage of water but irrigation officials had taken no notice of the crisis.

They said sufficient water was available in the Rohri Canal but it was not being released in the Hyderabad Branch, which fed the aforementioned water channels.

They appealed to the Sindh governor, chief minister and the irrigation minister to ensure that the water rotation programme was stopped and remove the superintending engineer.

They further demanded that the area should be declared as calamity-affected and recovery of taxes be stopped.