DADU, Aug 12: The growers held demonstrations in three towns of the district on Monday to protest against the shortage of water in the waterways emanating from the Rice and Dadu canals.

They said that the shortage of irrigation water was destroying their paddy and cotton crops.

A large number of growers held a demonstration in Bhan Saeedabad town to protest against the shortage of water in Talti, Bamba and other waterways.

The growers carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the irrigation officials.

The representatives of the growers alleged that the irrigation officials of Pat Sharif had sold their share of water to some influential landlords. They said that the waterways in Sehwan Sharif Taluka had dried up.

The growers of Johi Taluka staged a demonstration in front of the office of the SDO, Irrigation, Johi, to protest against the shortage of water.

They were led by the president, Abadgar Association, Ghulam Qadir.

Talking to newsmen, Ghulam Qadir said that the water share of the growers of Johi was sold to the influential landlords and politicians in Mehar Taluka and Khairpur Nathan Shah by the irrigation officials.

The growers of Bahawalpur held a demonstration outside the press club in protest against the shortage of water in the Pir Ganio and Khariro minors.

Our Naushahro Feroze correspondent adds: Hundreds of growers from the Dalipota minor staged a sit-in against the shortage of water on Naushahro Feroze-Mithiani link road on Monday due to which the link road remained blocked for six hours.

The farmers said that the tail-end growers were deprived of their share of water, while some influential people were getting excess water.

Later, on the assurance given by the taluka Nazim, Riaz Ahmed Goraho, the protest was called off.

RALLY: Over one hundred workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party, took out a rally in Moro, on Monday, for the release of Asif Ali Zardari and withdrawal of the cases against Ms Benazir Bhutto.