DADU, Feb 8: Protesting against the proposed construction of Nai Gaaj dam, farmers and residents of 48 dehs of Kachho staged a demonstration in Johi town on Wednesday. They said construction of Nai Gaaj dam would block flow of water to the southern belt.

A number of residents from Wahi Pandhi, Tando Rahim Khan, Sawaro, Qasim Rodhnani, Shakh Rodhnani, Ahmed Khan Birhamani and Thullah villages reached Johi and staged a vociferous demonstration.

They were led by the nazim of the Tando Rahim Khan Union Council, Aslam Khan Jangwani, Abdul Rahim Jamali, Faiz Mohammad Rodhnani and Ali Sher Rind.

The leaders told newsmen that Nai Gaaj was supplying water to different parts of Kachho and they were cultivating more than 300,000 acres of land through its water.

They said after construction of dam, western, eastern and southern parts of Kachho would experience water shortage and residents of hundreds of villages would be compelled to migrate.

They said the dam on Nai Gaaj was being constructed for cultivating lands of influential people of northern parts of Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar talukas.

President of the People’s Party Johi taluka, Basheer Ahmed Thaheem, said that after construction of the dam, water flow into Manchhar Lake as well as towards the southern parts would almost be stopped.

He said that Wapda had prepared a feasibility based on misconceptions for the dam which was aimed at to minting money.

Mithal Rodhnani said this would change the course of Nai Gaaj towards the north near Gaaj Bungalow.

He said even technically the project was not feasible.

He said if the project was carried out, it would render lands in Kachho barren which would ultimately hit the poor farmers.

He said that influential people of northern part had started making fake documents for Kachho lands just to get higher rate of compensation.

He appealed to President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to preserve the beauty of the Manchhar lake and not to snatch livelihood from the people of Kachho.

MNA Rafique Jamali said the project would appease influential and would end up in losses to thousands of people of the Kachho belt.

Meanwhile, brushing aside the criticism, the federal minister for water and power, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, said water would be distributed judiciously after construction of the dam on Nai Gaaj.

He said that construction of dam on Nai Gaaj would help cultivate an additional land of 300,000 acres.

PROTEST: On the call of Citizen Action Committee, a large number of residents and shopkeepers staged a demonstration in Khairpur Nathan Shah on Wednesday to protest against the influential persons who have occupied the building of Musafirkhana and other property in the town.