NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, Nov 18: The farmers whose land received water from Qasim Khahi minor and watercourse 9R staged a rally on Saturday in protest against the shortage of water.

Led by Arbab Khan Phul, Haji Raj Mohammad Phul, Allah Bux Abro and Abdul Rehman, the rally marched to Phul where the participants held a demonstration at watercourse 9R.

The protesters alleged that influential growers in collusion with the irrigation officials were stealing water through large sized modules and illegal katcha outlets leading to shortage of water in the minor. About 750 acres of agricultural land received water from watercourse 9R but the farmers were able to irrigate only 30 per cent of land, they said.

They said that the artificial shortage had inflicted on them huge losses. Despite several complaints to the SDO, executive engineer of irrigation and other high-ups, the department had so far done nothing to solve their problem, they complained.

They appealed to the chief minister, irrigation minister and secretary to intervene, order an impartial inquiry and award deterrent punishment to the officials responsible for the artificial shortage of water.