HYDERABAD, April 13 The Sindh Irrigation Department has cautioned growers to desist from sowing rice in the areas, which are irrigated by Ghotki Feeder, Rohri Canal and Nara Canal and where the crop's sowing is prohibited under law.

A spokesman for the department said in a handout issued on Monday that a recently held high level meeting chaired by chief secretary of Sindh was informed that the president had taken a serious notice of paddy cultivation during Kharif 2008 in the areas where it was prohibited.

The participants of the meeting, including senior officers of irrigation and power, revenue, police and agriculture departments, decided that to caution growers through a media campaign and inform them that violation of the law would entail heavy penalty as well as closure of outlets under Sindh Irrigation Act 1879, imposition of Abiana of Rs5,000 per acre on matured paddy crop and destruction of the crop.

The meeting pointed out that the chief minister had also directed to take similar measures to save the cash crops from twin menace of waterlogging and salinity, which would badly affect the land and reduce yield.

The spokesman said that a decision had been taken under the chief minister's orders to check waterlogging and salinity in the command areas of the three perennial canals, and persuade farmers to grow cotton, orchards and other crops.

It would help farmers get rich yields and bring economic prosperity to their area as well as help the country earn foreign exchange, he said.