MIRPURKHAS: Sindh Abadgar Board’s Mirpurkhas chapter president Haji Mohammad Umer Bughio has alleged that certain influential landowners of the area are releasing saline subsoil water into West Jamrao Canal in Tandho Allahyar.

He told local reporters that the activity was making canal water dangerous for lands and people’s health. People use the water for drinking purpose and the contamination poses a serious threat to public health, according to him.

He pointed out that the influential landowners had fixed heavy pumping machines to draw the subsoil water and dispose it of into the canal, meant for irrigation.

He regretted that the authorities concerned were paying no heed to SAB’s repeated complaints in this regard. He apprehended that the local officials concerned were reluctant to lay hands on the culprits due to their political clout.

He urged the chief minister, irrigation minister and secretary as well as other authorities concerned to take notice of the illegal activity and get the pumping machines removed in order to save fertility of the lands and also health of local people from harm.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2021