DADU, Aug 15: The district administration has approved demolition of illegal watercourses/modules originating from Dadu, Rice and Johi Branch canals to curb water theft.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of irrigation and revenue officials, and growers at Darbar Hall here on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Dadu Nasir Abbas Soomro.

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had ordered administration and irrigation department to deal strictly with water thieves at the Sindh cabinet meeting here last week. Water theft deprives tail-end growers of their share.

Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department’s Southern Division, Dadu Habibullah Kabooro told the meeting that they conducted an operation against water theft from 37-mile mark of Dadu Canal and 47 mile mark of Johi branch and sealed more than 50 watercourses and modules, rectified 30 tampered watercourses, and removed more than 45 water lifting machines from Dadu canal, Juhi branch and 21 illegal waterways. Complaints at Rukkan, Pyaro Goth, Phulji, Johi and Dadu police stations were lodged against 50 growers for drawing water illegally, he said. Tail end of Dadu canal and Johi branch were getting their water share under the monitoring of Secretary Irrigation Babar Hussain Effendi.

Vice president of Sindh Abadgar Board’s Dadu district chapter, Mohammad Omer Jamali assured officials of growers’ cooperation.

Sikandar Khoonharo of Bego Dero waterway said that this waterway originated from Johi branch and was deprived of water at a stretch of 12km since last 10 years but now it had received enough to irrigate 21,000 acres of farmland.

Mr Soomro said that the CM House was being updated daily on water distribution in canals and branches.