BADIN, Oct 8: Villagers and farmers of Deh Panwherki and Khalso of Badin taluka demanded on Sunday compensation for the losses they said they had suffered due to negligence of the irrigation department.

The villagers led by Bhudhal Khan Panhwar said that the department undertook the excavation of 5R Kadhan Pateji drain in Deh Khalso and Panwherki almost 15 years ago but left it half complete.

Since then the incomplete drain had contributed to increasing salinity and water-logging ruining their lands and thereby causing them huge financial losses each year, they complained.

They said that they finally knocked on the door of provincial ombudsman after their repeated requests and correspondence with different departments failed to bear any fruits.

They said that the ombudsman disposed it of after the irrigation department assured that it would include a provision for redressing their complaint in the next PC-I which would be prepared after the completion of part-II, stage-III of Kotri Barrage surface drainage scheme.