KARACHI, Sept 29: Alleging illegal withdrawal of water from an irrigation canal, the affected farmers on Friday demanded action against the officials and water thieves.

The protesting farmers — Kandiaro Sehto, Manzoor Mangejo, Zawar Kholar, Ghulam Rasul Bhagat, Bhudal Khokhar and Ghulam Rasul Sehto — belonging to Sobho Dero said they had been raising hue and cry for a long time, but the irrigation department officials, in connivance with the water thieves, continues to indulge in their illegal activity, so they have come to the city, and they have started hunger strike from Sept 18 at the Karachi Press Club.

They said water was being stolen from the Faiz Canal in Sobho Dero for over 10 years now and was being supplied by the irrigation department officials to landlords in the Kutcha area where over 50,000 acres were being cultivated with it while the agricultural lands at the tailend of the canal suffered water scarcity.

They said that thousands of faming families were affected as water reserved for their farmlands was being diverted to kutcha areas while their land remained without water.

They said after their continuous protests, the Sindh irrigation minister sought report on the issue and ordered that water diversion be stopped and water be restored to these farmers according to their quota in the Sobho Dero area.

They said though over six months have lapsed, they have not yet been given their due water share and the water was continuously being supplied to the kutcha area lands.

They urged the minister to look into the matter and take action against the officials who were not following his orders.

They further demanded that the influential water thieves be also taken to task.

They said that the irrigation department’s superintending engineer (Sukkur) had also approached the Pakistan Rangers urging for help to stop the theft.

The protesting farmers said despite this, the theft continues.

They said they would continue their hunger strike until the acceptance of their demands.