HYDERABAD, Dec 3: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Tuesday directed the Sukkur Barrage chief engineer to appear before the court on Dec 9 in connection with a petition, questioning closure of the Mira Khori Minor.

The constitutional petition was jointly filed by growers Mohammad Juman and Shah Mohammad against the chief engineer, Sukkur Barrage, superintending engineer, Rohri Canal circle, and other irrigation officials.

The petitioners said water supply to their lands should be ensured as they paid revenue and farm taxes.

They said after silt was cleared from RD-0 to RD-28 in 2000, water was supplied up to RD28 and the remaining part of the minor was not in a position to support water flow up to the tail-end, RD-52.

They said due to the water shortage, irrigation authorities decided to irrigate lands lying at the tail-end through the Murad Wah and the PC-I for construction of the Wah was issued by the irrigation department. They said it was mentioned in the PC-I that the proposed canal would only run when surplus water was available in the Fuleli Canal.

The petitioners however said due to the non-availability of water in the Murad Distributary and non-supply of water from the Miran Khori Minor, their crops were being destroyed and their cattle were dying.

They said the non-supply of water to their fields was illegal.

They prayed the court to declare the stoppage of water supply to the tail-end of the Miran Khori Minor discriminatory and abuse of official authority.

They further prayed the court to direct the respondents to restore water supply to the minor.

The assistant engineer, Bukerani sub-division, told the court that the petitioners were irrigating their lands from the Murad Wah and they were never supplied with water from the Miran Khori Minor.

He said the supply to tail-end areas was stopped as there was a shortage of water.

The officer pointed out that the petitioners could apply for remission at the quarters concerned for crop damages.