SANGHAR, Jan 23: Some members of the Sanghar District Council have called for an inquiry into the wheat crisis and demanded a decrease in the prices of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and urea fertilizer.

At a council’s session on Wednesday, member Atta Mohammad Chanhio said that irrigation water being supplied from Chotiyari reservoir was not fit for irrigation. “It contains high level of salts which have devastated a large area of agricultural land.”DCO members Umer Khan Khattak, Faqir Noor Hussain, Ismail Dars, Murad Ali Nizamani and others spoke during the session.

Mr Khattak urged the government to punish the people behind the wheat crisis. He alleged that some mill owners were misusing the wheat quota and selling it in black market. He called for an audit of the food department.

The members demanded desilting of canals. They said the Nara canal system had been closed for clearing, desilting and maintenance. But, so far desilting and repair work had not been carried out, they added.

The members demanded a decrease in the prices of DAP and urea fertilizer. They were of the view that if the prices of DAP and urea were not checked, the wheat production target for the year 2007-2008 would not be achieved.

The members also complained about the non-availability of medicines in the Sanghar civil hospital.

Member Tahira Khatoon called for streamlining of the distribution system of zakat funds.

The members demanded announcement of a relief package for farmers. They said in 2005-06, floods and mealy bug had destroyed a large area of crops. But, they added, no relief package had been announced for the affected farmers.