HYDERABAD, June 21: Small growers of Deh Veesar, Naushahro Feroze district, have appealed to the federal, provincial and district governments to provide them protection against alleged excesses of a feudal lord and the staff of the irrigation department.

Speaking at a news conference at the local press club on Monday, Zakir Hussain, Nisar Ali and Hussain Leghari alleged that in connivance with the staff of Moro irrigation department of Rohri division, feudal Ghulam Nabi Dahri had got watercourse No9AL sanctioned from the Phul Shakh to irrigate 80 acres of land in Deh Looni.

Accusing the feudal of stealing and selling water, they said that instead of the sanctioned 80 acres of land, 2,000 acres were being irrigated and added that the watercourse was taken out without permission from their lands which were being irrigated from remote watercourses.

The growers said that they applied to the irrigation department for supply of water from the said water course which was approved, however, office clerk Tago Khan Almani created hurdles and demanded bribe which they refused.

They said that they approached the irrigation secretary who, accepting their request, sent relevant documents to the Rohri circle superintending engineer which were sent back to the clerk who threatened them with dire consequences.

Alleging that the local feudal's kamdar Asghar Lashari had implicated them in false cases on the instigation of irrigation officials, the growers appealed to the authorities for justice and protection.