HYDERABAD, Nov 12: The recovery of agriculture taxes should be stopped in those areas of Sindh, where no crop could have been cultivated due to non-availability of water.

The demand was made by the central committee of the Sindhi Hari Tehrik (SHT) at a meeting held here on Monday.

Deploring the shortage of water in Sindh, the meeting urged the government to sanction loans to those growers, whose land had been affected by water shortage, in order to enable them to cultivate their lands.

It demanded that the feudal system should be abolished, the children of peasants should be given free education and colonies should be established for the peasants.

The meeting also decided to hold a training workshop for peasants in Ayaz Khaskheli Goth, Pabban Sharif, on Nov 29 and 30 and invite Rasool Bux Palijo, Professor Azizuddin Ahmed and Sarwar Bari to deliver lectures on dialectical materialism, Pakistan’s economy, history of Sindh, the role of Sufis in the Sub-continent and other subjects.

The meeting was presided over by SHT president Arif Junejo and attended by the central committee members, Vishnomal, Gul Hassan Keerino, Ghulam Mustafa Chandio, Ali Nawaz Dahri and others.

NOTICES ISSUED: The Sindh secretary for irrigation and power, Mohammad Hashim Leghari, has issued show-cause notices to the irrigation staff of Ghotano and Kunar minors for inefficiency and dereliction of duty.

He also ordered action against them, if they were found guilty of the charges.

He issued these notices during his surprise visits to Tando Adam, Tajpur and Naseer sub-division.

He inspected Husri and Rahuki distributaries, Khasano, Ghotano and Kunar minors, Surfaraz Wah, Keeria Shakh and other water channels.

He met the local farmers and inquired about their problems.

He directed the chief engineer, Sukkur Barrage, to issue show-cause notices to the concerned engineers, SDO and other staff on the complaints of the growers.

He said dereliction of duty and inefficiency were criminal acts and the officials who were creating problems for the people and growers could not be excused.

Laghari assured the growers if any government functionary was found involved in corruption or tampering of waterways, he would be punished.

He was informed by the growers that the water supply situation during the Rabi season had improved and growers had received 20 to 25 per cent more water as compared to last year.

WATER ROTATION: The executive engineer, Akram Wah division, Badin, has announced a rotation schedule for the channels in his division due to shortage of irrigation water.

The Kadhan sub-division, Kro Ali Bahar, Vehnai minor, Ghar Kadhan, Mithna, and Wangi minor and distributaries 350 to 380 will remain open to Nov 16. The Kazia branch, Saeeda minor, Hadachar minor, and distributaries RD-192 to 350 will remain open from Nov 16 to 24. The Shadi sub-division and the Hameera minor will remain open from Nov 24 to Dec 2. The Gaja branch and distributaries RD-0 to 182 will remain open from Dec 2 to Dec 10. The Shadi large and head Hameera minor will remain open from Dec 10 to Dec 18. Besides, the Kadhan sub-division (from Kazia Cross) will remain open from Dec 18 to Dec 26.

COMMUNITY BOARDS: A meeting was held here the other day to discuss modalities of the formation of the community board.

Presided over by the EDO, community development, Ibrahim Qureshi, the meeting decided to form citizens’ community board and village and neighbourhood councils.

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