MIRPURKHAS: Tail-end abadgars of Buggi minor of Jamrao canal continued their sit-in on Wednesday in Jhuddo town in protest against non-supply of irrigation water for the past few months.

Led by Ayaz Khoso and Khalid Sadaf, the protesters were carrying banners and placards while raising slogans against the irrigation department officers.

They have been staging the sit-in at Main Jhuddo Mithi road by installing tents for the last two days.

Talking to local reporters, they alleged that the irrigation department staff had sold their share of water to big landlords having their land at the head of the Jamrao canal and Buggi minor.

They deplored that the water share of the tail-end farmers had been sold by the director Nara canal and XEN Jamrao canal as result water was not reaching the tail-end areas of Buggi and other minors of the area.

They alleged that they had invested millions of rupees in the cultivation of different crops, including cotton. They demanded the higher authorities to replace the director of Nara canal and XEN Jamrao canal and appoint honest officers at their posts without any delay.

Another demo

Scores of abadgars of Mirpur minor of Jamrao canal also held a demonstration on Wednesday at Seed Farm in protest against corruption of darogah and beldar, and damages to the government orchards due to water shortage.

Led by Mirpurkhas district Sindh United Party president Lala Azhar Pathan, protesters carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the corrupt irrigation officials involved in selling the share of the farm.

Talking to reporters, Lala Pathan and Ghulam Ali Dal blamed that darogah and beldar of Mirpur minor were involved in corruption. They sold the official water share of the seed farm consisted of 280 acres to influential landlords. The water shortage had damaged fruit and vegetable trees there.

They deplored that local abadgars had complained to concerned authorities but no vain. They urged the director Nara canal and XEN Jamrao canal to take immediate notice of the matter and punish the responsible officials.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2025