MITHI, April 26: Small businessmen have deplored the apathy of the administration, Tehsil Council Mithi, which has fixed Rs400 as commercial water supply charges per month in Mithi town and has disconnected their water supply connections.

The small businessmen observed hunger strike in front of the press club for the second consecutive day on Friday.

Talking to journalists, Nandlal Malhi, president, Thar Action Forum, and a number of other businessmen said that Thar was reeling under severe drought conditions since the last four years and the majority of small business owners of Mithi town were finding it extremely difficult to make both ends meet.

They said that they could not afford paying the high utility bills but, strangely enough, the Tehsil Council administration had increased the water supply charges from Rs100 to Rs400 per month.

They demanded withdrawal of the water supply charges and restoration of the water supply. They demanded that action be taken against the official of the Tehsil Council, Mithi, who was harassing them by imposing unjustified water supply charges.