MIRPURKHAS, Nov 18: A complete strike was observed in Jhuddo town on Tuesday in protest against acute shortage of water in the tail-end areas of Jamrao and Mithrao canals on a call for protest given by the Sindh Abadgar Tehrik and Lower Sindh Tailend Abadgar Association.

All shops in Shahi Bazaar, Fateh Market, Goal Market and Station Road remained shuttered as hundreds of growers blocked the Mirpurkhas-Jhuddo road by parking criss-crossed tractor-trolleys and pickups, suspending vehicular traffic.

The protesters led by Pir Ali Akbar Bodla, Haji Wajid Ali Kaimkhani, Noor Mohammad Khoso, Abdullah Khoso and Bachal Shah staged a sit-in on the main road.

Their leaders condemned irrigation officers for not supplying water to tail distributaries and minors of Jamrao and Mithrao canals, forcing. Besides damaging crops, the non-supply of water was forcing people of Jhuddo and other towns to go without drinking water.

They alleged that water for drinking purposes was supplied into a few distributaries only for three days while most of the distributaries were drying up for past one month.

They demanded that the government suspend the director of Nara canal and XENs of Jamrao and Mithrao canals for mismanagement in distribution of water and ensure proper supply of water to the tail of distributaries.

They threatened that if water was not restored, they would besiege the office of the director of Nara canal on Nov 25.

Protesters dispersed peacefully when district administration assured them of negotiating with irrigation officials to restore supply of water.