SANGHAR, Feb 7: A large number of farmers from the tail-end area of the Toori minor blocked the Sanghar-Mirpurkhas road on Monday in protest against the shortage of irrigation water.

They burnt tyres and closed the road for traffic for more than five hours.

Speaking on the occasion, Qadir Bux Mahar, Ali Sher Shar, Ahmed Nizamani and Nihal Sanjrani said the Toori minor of the Bakhoro sub-division was closed three months back. They said they had sown wheat on a few acres which dried up due to non-availability of water.

They alleged that water was released in the minor once or twice but it could not reach the tail because influential landlords at the head had increased the gauges of modules.

No official of the irrigation department came to listen to grievances of farmers.

TPO Riaz Soomro reached the spot for road opening but the protesters did not oblige him.

Later, District Naib Nazim Dr Mehmood Rajput reached there and promised the supply of water within three days.

The farmers dispersed but warned that if water was not released within three days they would again block the road.

FERTILIZER: Urea fertilizer is being sold on the black market by dealers in the district. The official price of a bag of 50kg urea is Rs450 but hoarders and black marketers are selling it at the rate of Rs550 to Rs590 per bag.