DADU: Tail-end growers of various irrigation channels of Dadu and Mirpurkhas districts on Monday in their respective areas against irrigation officials’ alleged connivance with big landowners in water theft.

Small growers having their lands in the tail-end of Pir Gunio Shakh (irrigation channel) in Dadu district took out a rally and held demonstrations outside the local press club and at different points of the dried bed of the channel to draw the attention of the higher authorities to their plight.

Mohammad Suleman, who led the protest, told reporters that they had been facing an acute shortage of irrigation and drinking water as big landowners of the area had deployed their armed men along the course of the channel. He alleged that “such forcible occupation of the entire water channel is not possible without their connivance with the local irrigation officials”.

The protesters also alleged that the armed men were preventing water from flowing up to the tail-end areas. They complained that unavailability of water for many weeks had disabled them from cultivating their lands for cane, cotton and vegetable crops on several hundred acres.

A cane grower, Jan Mohammad, said that sugar cane was cultivated on 100 acres in the area but the crop had dried up for want of water. He said that the sub-divisional officers and executive engineer concerned were not found present in their offices to hear their complaints and the lower staff appeared helpless with regard to their woes.

Another grower, Haji Khan, said that the tail-end area of Pir Gunio Shakh was not getting water even for drinking. “Our animals are dying of thirst,” he said.

Similar complaints were made by participants in other demonstrations held by growers of various other areas of Dadu supposed to be provided water through Khudabad, Phaka and Johi irrigation channels.

In Mirpurkhas, scores of growers belonging to the tail-end areas of Kherao Shakh held a demonstration outside the local press club on Monday against an acute shortage of water.

Shahnawaz Halepota and Murad Marri led the protesters, who raised slogans against the irrigation officials concerned for not heeding their impassioned calls for supply of water.

Speaking to reporters, they alleged that their share of water was actually sold to influential landowners of the area.

The unlawful practices on the part of the landowners and local irrigation officials had rendered small growers’ thousands of acres of land barren, they lamented.

They urged the authorities concerned to intervene in the matter and ensure water supply and its judicious distribution in the area.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2018