DADU, July 14: Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said 40 per cent work on the greater Thal canal has been completed. He said water could not be released into the canal before its completion. He said regulators and head-works of the canal had not been completed. The minister was speaking at a press conference at Jatoi House here on Thursday.

Referring to a recent statement of Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim about the greater Thal canal, he said he had confirmed that no water had been released into the canal. However, he said, rainwater of the area might have flown into the canal.

He maintained that greater Thal, Rainee and Kachhi were flood canals. He gave an assurance that Sindh’s share of water would not be released into the canals.

He said that during high floods, water would be released into the flood canals but the decision would be taken by the Indus River System Authority.

Mr Jatoi said sufficient water was available and the provinces had been asked to get water according to their needs.

Answering a question, he said Rainee, greater Thal and Kachhi canals would be completed in 2007.

He said a big quantity of water was being released and it was the responsibility of the Sindh irrigation department to ensure its fair distribution.

ARREST DEMANDED: A group of people belonging to different villages of the Dadu taluka held a demonstration outside the press club here on Thursday to protest against the investigation police for not arresting killers of Rafique Mallah.