LARKANA, June 28: The district council, Larkana, adopted a resolution on Friday demanding that the entire district be declared calamity-hit area owing to the acute water shortage and low agricultural produce over the last three years.

The resolution was tabled by the Nazim of Union Council Warisdino Mashi, Ghous Bakhsh Chandio, said that water flow in canals and distributaries of this district was still not up to the requirement. He pointed out that 6.2 feet deep water had been recorded in the Shahdadkot branch and 2.3 feet in Salari distri against the actual requirement of eight feet and 4.5 feet respectively. Similar situation prevailed in Qubo and other branches, he added.

He claimed that Balochistan was receiving more water than its actual share.

Supporting the resolution, Muhib Pirzado of Dokri, Badaruddin Abbasi and Khair Muhammed Shaikh of Larkana, Amir Bakhsh Gad, the chief whip, Qaim Khan Shakh, Abdul Qadir Sangi and some other members said that the paucity of irrigation water had badly affected economy of the district.

They indicated that only 0.6 million tons of rice could be exported last year against the normal target of 0.9 million tons from the district.

The decline in rice export, they added, caused a loss of Rs3 billion in foreign exchange.

The House asked the irrigation officials to ensure their attendance at the session.

Regarding transfers of supervisors in education department without consulting the respective Nazims, the council sought a detailed report to be submitted within a fortnight.

A majority of the members expressed resentment over the non-compliance of the council’s resolutions saying that it damaged the image and dignity of the House.

They also criticized the delay in distributing bicycles, sewing machines and hand-pumps among the members.

Athar Abbas Solangi, who chaired the session, warned certain officials against their staying away from the session and asked them to make sure their availability to respond to the members’ quarries.

JSM rally: Activists of Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) staged a demonstration in Kambar town on Friday against the rehabilitation of ‘outsiders’ in Sindh.

Led by Yunis Lashari, the divisional coordinator of the party, the protesters took out a procession which converged at Bhutto Chowk.

Addressing the activists, the JSM leaders urged the government to contain the influx of settlers and termed it a conspiracy to turn Sindhis into a minority.

A group of 15 activists also observed a hunger strike which was join in by some members of the Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party to express the party’s solidarity with the JSM.