BADIN, Nov 13: The growers of coastal areas of Shaheed Fazil Rahu Taluka have demanded the government for exempting them from agricultural tax, land revenue, Ushr and Zakat, water tax, and postponement of recovery of ADBP loans due to an acute shortage of water in the area.

The growers said that their crops had been totally destroyed due to the irrigation authorities not providing them irrigation water, and added that as a result of this they were facing huge financial losses.

Talking to newsmen on Wednesday, several growers including Haji Qamar Hussain, Ghulam Rasool, Mohammad Hassan, Mohammad Irfan, and Haji Mehal Chang said that the water shortage was artificial.

They said that they had invested a huge amount on land development, seeds, and fertilizers, and added that they also spent a huge amount on paying Haris.

The growers said that almost all the Dehs of the coastal belt fell within the low-lying areas of Ahmed Rajo circle, which had been destroyed due to an acute shortage of irrigation water.

They said that the Taluka Nazim, Shaheed Fazil Rahu, had visited the affected areas and sent a complete report to the DCO, Badin, recommending to declare the areas calamity-hit.

They demanded President Pervez Musharraf, the governor Sindh, and other officials to exempt the affected area from agricultural taxes and other government dues.