HYDERABAD, Sept 8: The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB), at a meeting held here on Saturday, expressed concern over the frequent breaches in canals and channels and the collapse of spurs near the S.M. Embankments (Saghiyoon Matiari).

It observed the collapse of the spurs was the result of negligence and mismanagement of irrigation officials and demanded a judicial inquiry into the breaches.

It noted when adequate funds were made available to the irrigation department for repairs of embankments, there was no reason why such breaches should take place every now and then.

The meeting demanded of the federal government to divert the funds allocated for the Reni canal for lining major canals of Sindh and also to provide additional funds for this purpose.

It pointed out the Reni canal project had already been rejected by politicians, growers, technocrats and people.

The meeting regretted that being at the tail-end, Sindh was the worst sufferer in water supply.

The meeting appealed to the federal government to share the cost of lining of at least 50 per cent of the watercourses to the extent of 75 per cent and complete the lining within five years.

It was of the opinion that in case the watercourses were lined, water supply would increase by 50 per cent and water- logging and salinity problems would be resolved to the extent of 60 per cent.

The meeting also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country and said it appeared this was due to economic reasons.

It said during the last few years, no development had taken place in the province, agro-based industry was in the grip of crisis and massive retrenchment in private sector industries had become common.

It demanded that in addition to the royalty for oil, gas and ports, these organizations should be bound down to provide maximum jobs to locals.

The meeting deplored although the agricultural economy had faced unprecedented crisis during the last three years, land, agriculture income and water taxes had been imposed.

It said sugarcane and rice production had decreased by 50 per cent and 35 per cent respectively and added the same was the case with wheat, cotton vegetables and fruits.

The meeting deplored the attitude of the government towards growers and said no relief was being provided to the people of officially-declared calamity-affected areas.