KHAIRPUR, Nov 15: Provincial Minister for Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo has said that there is a possibility of 35 to 40 per cent shortage of irrigation water during Rabi season due to which water rotation programme would be implemented strictly.

He stated this while holding an open kutchehry at circuit house here on Saturday.

On the complaints of growers, the provincial minister sacked SDO SCARP Tube-well sub-division Gambat and ordered an inquiry into the allegations of chopping and selling of government trees on different irrigation canals against SDO Irrigation Kandiaro-II, Syed Bhooral Shah.

The provincial minister advised the growers that if they have any information regarding cutting of trees from any of irrigation canals in their areas, they should provide the same with with proofs so that action could be taken against the irrigation officials involved in such practices.

Earlier, the growers, including Dr Fatah Memon, Khuda Bux Sahto, Liaquat Tunio and others complained about shortage of irrigation water in various canals in taluka Sobhodero and other parts of district Khairpur and said that sowing of wheat crop was being badly affected due to non-availability of irrigation water. They alleged that irrigation officials were involved in theft as they were selling irrigation water to influential growers.

They added that under the circumstances the “Grow More Wheat” campaign seems to be day-dreaming.

They pointed out that there has been no irrigation water in Machhar and Mehrab minor of taluka Sobhodero for the last ten years and added that they have been complaining about the water situation but no attention was paid to resolve the problems of the growers.

They further complained that many of SCARP tube-wells were in operational and the transformers of many tube-wells have been stolen.

A grower Ghulamullah Siyal complained at the open kutchehry that trees were being chopped from the irrigation canals since long but neither the irrigation officials nor police had taken action against the persons involved.

The provincial minister took serious notice about the absence of some officials including DPO and DCO in the kutchehry.