THATTA, May 11: District Coordination Officer Mohammad Jafar Abbasi has asked the chief engineer of Kotri Barrage to de-silt canals and strengthen their banks and those of drains of saline water in the district before monsoon to prevent any eventuality and ensure smooth supply of water to farmland, particularly at the tail-end areas.

In a letter to the chief engineer, the DCO says that he has been receiving complaints from farmers belonging to coastal taluka of Mirpur Sakro that four main drains and sub-drains are becoming vulnerable and they require special attention.

The DCO has mentioned in the letter that his office has also received complaints about non-clearance, de-weeding and de-silting of canals.

He says delegations of growers have been visiting his office, saying that any official negligence towards this issue will result in grave losses to farmers who have already sustained the brunt of last year's devastating flood.

The District Coordination Officer says that particularly the distributaries of Goongki Minor, Raj Wah Tail, Naari Chachh, Jam Branch, Kheerani Minor, Halath Minor and Maasoodi, Kaanheiki and Buhara require maintenance and de-silting.