KHAIRPUR, March 11: Secretary Irrigation Shuja Ahmed Junejo, who has been sent to conduct inquiry into illegal outlets from the Faiz Ganj canal in Sobhodero arrived in Sukkur on Saturday amid growers’ protest over his department’s alleged involvement in the illegal practice.

The secretary, instead of visiting the site to ascertain the existence of outlets chose to stay in Sukkur and conduct his inquiry from there.

The Abadgars Action Committee and Sindh Hari Committee, which staged a protest demonstration in front of Khairpur Press Club on Saturday, complained the secretary did not deign to meet a delegation of tail-end growers of Faiz Ganj canal, who had gone to Sukkur to meet him.

The protestors alleged the irrigation officials were pressurizing them to settle the issue in ‘jirgas’ with the influential persons.