HYDERABAD, June 5: Growers of the Makhdoom Sahar Shakh, Jamshoro, and activists of the Sindh Hari Committee held a joint demonstration against acute shortage of water in the channel. They also observed a token hunger strike.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Hari Committee general secretary Zamir Lashari and others accused irrigation officials and landlords of the area of creating artificial shortage of water.

They said the water shortage was affecting crops of growers of Goth Sono Khan Zardari and other areas.

They demanded that authorities should take action against water thieves and ensure supply of water to tail-end growers.

They further demanded that an inquiry should be held about a Rs12.5 million special package released for improvement of the Makhdoom Sahar Shakh.

They warned that if water was not made available to tail-end growers in three days, they would launch a protest movement against officials of the irrigation department.

They also criticized police for their alleged highhandedness against veteran leader comrade Jam Saqi and demanded immediate release of his wife.