HYDERABAD, June 25: Activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz demonstrated outside the press club here on Monday in protest against allocation of funds for Diamer-Bhasha dam project in the federal budget of 2012-13.

Acting vice-chairman of the JSQM Dr Niaz Kalani criticised the government and said construction of the dam would further worsen water problem in the lower riparian Sindh which was already facing an acute water shortage.

He said that crops had dried because of non-availability of water in the province, adding that the situation would affect food production.

He demanded that the project be shelved and warned of a protest drive if the government failed to take any action in this regard.

Masroor Thebo, Rehman Pirzado and Nawab Burdi ofmthen JSQM also spoke on the occasion.

FISHERMEN: Activists of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) observed a token hunger strike outside the press club as part of its ‘Keep River Free’ campaign.

Ghulam Mustafa Mallah, president of PFF’s Jamshoro chapter, while opposing construction of dams on the River Indus, demanded restoration of its lost glory.

He said that occupation of lakes and wetlands and encroachment upon the bed of natural rain storm drain must end.

He said that around 300 water bodies and lakes had been occupied by political and influential people in Sindh.

He added that fishing community was passing a miserable life because of such occupation and suffering economically.

He said the fishermen were forced to migrate in search of livelihood after they lost their source of income.

DEMO: A group of people from Iqbal Colony held a demonstration in Latifabad unit-12 in protest against suspension of water supply to their area by Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

They said that their area was not getting water for a long time and the matter had been brought to Wasa authorities but to no avail.

They said that additional water connections had been provided to adjacent areas through the pipeline that supplies water to their area.