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SANGHAR, June 26: Despite a strict check and intensive patrolling by the irrigation authorities, unknown people succeeded in damaging the RD-2 section of Samaro Shakh (distributary) near Khundo Khan Chandio village early on Wednesday.
A 100-ft breach developed at the site and spillage submerged standing crops over 200 acres in the area falling in the Khipro irrigation sub-division.
The sub-divisional officer, who is supervising the vigilance and monitoring operation, maintained that the damaged section was strong enough to stand pressure of water and it was almost impossible that a breach could occur without tampering.
He pointed out that certain influential landowners in the area had been hurling threats towards him ever since the irrigation department started vigilance and monitoring of bunds to prevent breaches. He recalled that he and his sub-ordinates had been subjected to an attack recently following closure of some modules from where water-theft had been reported.
The officer said that such people were annoyed because the irrigation authorities had taken strict measures to ensure adequate supply of water to the tail-enders.
Meanwhile, villagers plugged a similar breach that had developed in the banks of a canal near Perumal. Water supply was closed by closing the canal gates to facilitate the plugging work.
PROFESSIONAL TAX: The Union Council, Khipro, has adopted a resolution against the imposition of professional tax as proposed by the concerned taluka council.
The UC Nazim, Muhammad Waseem Kaim Khani, Naib Nazim, Suhail Lohar and about 15 other members, besides local residents, took out a procession from the UC office and marched through the streets of the town. The procession culminated at the main Khipro Chowk.
The maintained that the members of taluka council did not represent the area people as the former were ‘outsiders’. They also refused to recognise the taluka taxation committee.
Questioning justification of the professional tax, they pointed out that no water was released in canals for several months which had created enormous economic problems for the people already hard-hit by dearness. They said that the tax would only add to the miseries of target earners who include a majority of those running small cabins and shops or having just pushcarts.
ZAKAT DISTRIBUTION: An amount of about Rs1.4 million could not be disbursed due to a row between the taluka council and Zakat committee over the list of recipients in Shahdadpur on Monday.
Around 90 deserving people had gathered to receive Zakat cheques.
When Sanghar district Zakat committee chairman, Haji Ismail Halepoto, and local Zakat committee members reached Shahdadpur taluka council office to disburse the cheques, the taluka Nazim, Israr Magsi, and members of the taluka council, objected to the list of recipients prepared by the Zakat committee.
The deserving people went home after waiting for the whole day outside the office in scorching heat.
Meanwhile, about 3.2 million rupees were disbursed among 203 deserving people by the local Zakat committee in Sinjhoro.
The EDO, revenue, Tanveer Qureshi, Mukhtiarkar, Usman Memon, the taluka Nazim, Rana Sattar, local Zakat committee chairman and its members were present on the occasion.
Cheques for four ineligible applicants were cancelled and those for 12 were withheld for re-verification.
