SANGHAR, June 25: Farmers’ organisations have accused officials of the irrigation department of interfering in their affairs and harassing them.

The irrigation authorities were interested in failure of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida), alleged a meeting of the farmers bodies held in Jhol on Sunday.

The meeting, presided over by farmers bodies chairman Ishfaq Rajput, said the irrigation officials were not cooperating with the farmers organisations.

The chairman informed the meeting that irrigation officials closed canals without informing or consulting the organisations on the pretext of water rotation.

He said, under the Sida act, the organisations had to manage the irrigation system in their respective areas and were supposed to collect Abiana (water tax).