LAKKI MARWAT, April 14: The growers of Baistkhel, Gandi Khankhel, Paharkhel Thall and other villages have threatened to launch a protest movement if availability of water was not ensured in Qasooria canal within 48 hours.

At an emergency meeting held at the residence of former tehsil nazim and head of Jamat-i-Islami’s political and public affairs wing Anwar Hayat Khan on Saturday, Ihsanullah Khan and other farmers’ leaders said the growers and owners of the lands situated on the tail-end faced water shortage for irrigation purpose, badly affecting corps.

“We are crying for water in the canal since last couple of years but no one has bothered to pay heed to our genuine demand,” lamented the affected farmers.

They said they had suffered huge losses because of damages caused by scarcity of water to the crops, adding the non-availability of water in the canal was rapidly transforming their fertile lands into barren tracts. They said they could not suffer losses anymore.— Our Correspondent