DADU, Oct 12: Water shortage is badly affecting wheat crop at tail-ends of waterways originating from Dadu Canal and growers fear that 500,000 acres of land will not receive adequate water during Rabi season due to unfair distribution of water.

According to growers wheat crop cultivation has started but they were not getting adequate water and alleged that irrigation officials were selling water to the influential landlords.

An affected grower, Syed Hajan Shah, said that Phakka waterway was lying dry from RD 30 to RD 65. He said that he owned 500 acres of land but he was not able to cultivate 50 acres for the current wheat season.

Another grower of the same waterway, Mohammad Hassan Panhwar, said that there was no water for drinking purpose at the tail-end of the channel. He apprehended that 2500 acres would remain uncultivated during Rabi.

Pirgunio waterway, too, was lying dry from RD 20 to RD 80 and the watercourses originating from it were tempered with, alleged a small grower and local PPP leader Abdul Karim Mallah.

He alleged that the engineer concerned had fixed rates from Rs1,00,000 and onwards per watercourse for water supply during Rabi.

He sought transfer of the engineer and restoration of his and other growers share of water.

Another grower, Aijaz Ahmed Qureshi, said that Khudabad waterway, originating from Dadu canal, had no water from RD 25 to RD 50. He alleged that irrigation officials had demanded gratification to release his share of water and on refusal he was denied water. He said that he had complained to senior officers of irrigation but in vain.

A grower of Johi sub-division of irrigation grower Khair Mohammad said that this area was most affected as all water courses were tempered with and most of the waterways originating from Johi branch were lying dry.

He alleged that irrigation officials were selling water at head of Dadu canal in Sita sub division and big growers in taluka Johi. Patoro Minor from RD 20 to 45 was lying dry.