HYDERABAD: Residents and growers of Johi taluka staged a rally outside the local press club on Sunday in protest against shortage of irrigation water and theft of the most essential commodity from Johi branch, an off-taking channel of Dadu canal.

The protest was led by Abadgar Association’s representatives Yousuf Solangi, Jhando Khan Leghari, Dr A. Hameed Soomro, Manzoor Solangi, Dr Mohammad Khan Babbar and others. Imdad Chandio of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Mahesh Kumar and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf local leaders Sadqat Ali Jatoi, Kareem Jatoi, Manzoor Babbar, Dastagir Rind and Afroz Shoro also joined the protest as a mark of solidarity.

Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against the irrigation department.

Protesters’ leaders alleged that the elected representatives of Dadu were involved in water theft from Johi branch because lands of influential people were being irrigated alone while poor residents were left helpless with continuous shortage of water and their lands barren.

They stated that upper riparian of Johi branch was getting water but in the 19-miles downstream area, no one was getting the required flows. People from upper riparian stole water through illegal pipes and lift machines while illegal minors were also created from the branch, which was condemnable, they said.

Speaking to the participants, Manzoor Solangi said they would have to call spade a spade. He said the situation in the Malkani area of Badin and Johi taluka in Dadu was the same. All affected residents would have to unite and hold protest in Hyderabad on water issue, he suggested.

If they did not surround their elected representatives to make them address the issue, their struggle would not yield any results, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2020