LARKANA: The Sindh irrigation department has asked the director general (DG) of Pakistan Rangers Sindh and provincial IG police to provide sufficient security to its staff during the monitoring of water distribution on the right bank of Indus River.

It was learnt here on Thursday that the chief engineer (irrigation) of Sukkur Barrage Right Bank Region on July 14, 2025 in a letter to the secretary irrigation submitted that currently field staff is performing the official responsibilities in Right Bank Region Larkana for enforcement and monitoring of irrigation channels to supply adequate discharge to the tail-ending khatedars, as well as safety of the canals to avoid any mishap and untoward situation.

The security is necessary to the field staff who perform duty day and night in sensitive areas, especially in the monsoon season when high attention is required for the safety of the irrigation network, the letter said.

The situation becomes critical and tense due to resistance from criminal elements and these circumstances pose serious threats to the safety and security of the staff, including all officers and their subordinates.

The chief engineer had requested for necessary protection and support from the law enforcement agencies for carrying out duties effectively without intimidation or interference.

In response to the communication, the letter was forwarded to the additional chief secretary of the Sindh home department on July 29, 2025, requesting for necessary instructions to all the concerned authorities for ensuring adequate measures for providing security and protection to the field staff of Right Bank Region Larkana effectively as well as other regions (irrigation).

This will help enable the staff to perform their official duties effectively without any intimidation or interference and with full dedication and commitment. Sher Muhammed Noonari, section officer (Admin-I), signed this letter.

Following the official correspondence in this connection, the home department sent letters to the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) DG and IGP on July 30, 2025.

Larkana Commissioner Tahir Hussain Sangi on July 30, referring to the letter from the chief engineer, addressed a communication to the Larkana DIG police and sought necessary action for providing security to the irrigation staff deputed on the field assignments in the sensitive areas. He sent its copies to the secretary irrigation and home department.

High court orders

The executive engineer, Saifullah Magsi Branch division, Shahdadkot, in a letter over the issue on Aug 2, 2025 addressed to the district and sessions judge Qambar-Shahdadkot, Rangers, deputy commissioners and SSPs of Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Shikarpur requested for protection against miscreants to ensure the compliance of the high court orders.

Giving reference to the orders of the Sindh High Court, circuit bench Hyderabad, he submitted that the court vide orders passed in CP No. D-649/2014, CP No. D-2662/2016, CP No. D-1773/2018, CP No. D-659/2019, CP No. D-1758/2019, CP No. D-1822/2019, and CP No. D-1892/2019, dated 23-07-2019, issued clear directions to ensure proper distribution of water and to take strict action against those involved in water theft.

The orders specifically call for the removal of illegal lift machines, pipes, unauthorised modules and rectification of broken modules, in order to ensure fair provision of drinking and irrigation water to tail-end khatedars.

The court directed that no disturbance should be caused during the implementation of this mechanism, and authorised the respective district and sessions judges to take necessary actions in the spirit of the judgments passed in the Khadim Hussain Arain case (CP No. D-1043/2018) and Zafar Ali Shah case (CP No. D-1661/2016). These judgments mandate full support, including the deployment of magistrates to maintain the law and order. Additional IGPs of Sukkur and Hyderabad regions were also directed to register FIRs in cases of water theft.

In compliance with the above orders, the secretary of the irrigation department has issued instructions to all concerned officers and officials to strictly adhere to the court’s directions, the letter contained.

However, during the execution of works related to the rectification of the damaged direct outlets and broken modules, the field staff of Saifullah Magsi Branch Division, Shahdadkot, faced resistance from influential khatedars.

These individuals obstructed the lawful operations, misbehaved with the officers, and created serious hindrances, constituting contempt of court by directly violating the orders of the high court, the letter said.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025