MIRPURKHAS, Nov 28: The tail-end growers of Mari minor have called upon the Sindh chief minister, the Sindh governor, the chief secretary and the secretary, irrigation, to open the minor which was lying closed due to non-payment of water tax by influential landlords.

Talking to newsmen on Friday the tail-end growers, including Haji Abdul Ghafoor Maher, Haji Mubarak Maher, Yar Mohammad Mari and Qaim Khan, said that under the directives of the director, Nara Canal Area Water Board, the Mari minor was closed 25 days back after water tax was not paid by influential landlords as a result of which the tail-end growers had to suffer.

They said that the tail-enders could not sow wheat on about 50,000 acres which would result in shortage of 200,000 maunds of produce against its official target.

They said that at least an amount of Rs500,000 remained outstanding against the landlords of the minor on account of water tax.

They said that Rs1,100,000 and Rs700,000 also remained outstanding against the landlords of Dilore and Patoyoon minors but they had been closed.

They said that many growers of Mari minor had paid all their taxes.

They accused the Sindh Irrigation Drainage Authority (SIDA) and the Nara Canal Area Water Board of committing excesses.

They said that closure of the Mari minor was violation of Sindh High Court’s order passed by the Hyderabad circuit bench on a constitutional petition filed by a tail-end grower, Haji Abdul Ghafoor Mahar.

They demanded the chief justice, Sindh High Court; the chairman, SIDA, and the director, Nara Canal Area Water Board, to take serious notice of the injustices against the tail-end growers and ensure proper water supply to them.

MAN KILLED: A man, Niaz Mohammad Korai, 25, was killed in an armed clash between Korai and Kapri tribesmen over a land dispute in Double Mori, near Dado Khan Korai, on Thursday.