SHIKARPUR, June 28: The recently replaced and repaired steel gates at group regulator of Begari Canal have failed to stand the flow of water and the authorities had to stop water supply for the repairs again.

Eleven gates of the group regulator, receiving water from BS Feeder through Begari Canal and Sindh Canal, had been either replaced or repaired before the monsoon at a cost of Rs4.5 million.

However, the gates did not function perfectly when water was released into the regulator.

Growers of the area, desperately waiting for water to reach their lands, were disappointed when irrigation authorities informed them of closure of the regulator for repair again.

The cultivators opined that substandard steel blades and other material were used in manufacturing the gates which resulted in the overall damage to the regulator.

The mechanical division of irrigation department is looking into the actual cause of the damage.

Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, a central leader of the Sindh Democratic Alliance, and leaders of different farmers’ organizations have demanded that the repair work be undertaken on emergency basis to ensure supply of water to the affected areas at the earliest in order to prevent paddy and other Kharif crops from failure.

HUNGER STRIKE: A token hunger strike was observed here on Friday by the activists of Pakistan Peoples Party (SB) in protest against detection bills issued by Hesco.