HYDERABAD: Sindh Abadgar Ittehad (SAI) president Nawab Zubair Talpur has expressed concern over the reduction in water flows in the Nara and Rohri canals following damage to the cofferdam at Sukkur Barrage.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said that substandard material was being used for the repair of Sukkur Barrage’s gates, during which the cofferdam was damaged. As a result, he said, water flows in the Rohri and Nara canals had been reduced, which was affecting the agriculture sector.

He added that cotton cultivation would begin soon and under the current circumstances, the situation would worsen due to the shortage of water.

He also rejected the Chaubara Canal project. He alleged that the Punjab government was executing anti-Sindh projects and added that the Jalalpur and Chaubara canal projects were part of this plan. He said Sindh would not accept these projects and that a protest movement would be launched after Eidul Fitr.

He also condemned the government’s increase in fuel prices and said such a situation would create multiple problems for growers because fuel costs would rise alongside the water shortage. He said spurious seed was being sold in Sindh and that the federal government had banned around 300 companies, but their names had not been publicised. He added that the names of these companies should be disclosed to save farmers from incurring losses.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2026