HYDERABAD, Oct 8: Expressing concern over an artificial shortage of fertilisers created by dealers, the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has decided to take up the issue directly with the prime minister.

The decision in this connection was taken at a meeting of the chamber held here on Sunday.

The president of the chamber, Syed Qamaruzzaman Shah said that the delegation would leave for Islamabad on Tuesday.

He said that it would apprise the prime minister about the artificial shortage of fertilisers in Sindh and wide spread havoc wreaked by recent rains.

He said that the prime minister would also be informed that some district of the province had been declared calamity affected by the Sindh government yet the farming community had not been extended any facilities so far.

He said that the farmers have not yet been exempted from the payment of land revenue, water charges and bank loans.

The meeting observed that if fertiliser was not made available on time, the growers would suffer irreparable losses in Rabi crops.

It said that despite unequivocal announcement by the Sindh government, only Ansari sugar mill, Army sugar mill and Khairpur sugar mill have started crushing season while all other mills were lying closed.

It noted that the prevailing situation had created unrest and resentment among farmers.

It demanded that strict action should be taken against sugar mill owners and they should be forced to start the crushing season without any delay.

WATER ROTATION: The executive engineer of the Nasir division Hyderabad notified on Saturday that due to shortage of water in Rohri canal, Tando Soomro-II, Nagnah, Tando Allahyar-I and II, Gharib, Chang minor, Landhi-II, Pir Shakhi-I minor, Gharo minor, Amarlo minor, Aliabad, Basra-I minor, Sarhadi minor, Chango minor, Khoski, Unnar-I and Tajpur minor would remain closed till October 14.—Bureau