DADU, Oct 18: At a time when the wheat sowing season is about to begin, water shortage continue to haunt the growers caused allegedly due to the mismanagement in water distribution in the southern division irrigation Dadu.
Small growers alleged that an artificial shortage had been created for the last 30 days. Many waterways originating from Dadu canal and Johi branch have dried up at the tail-end but neither any senior official of the irrigation department has visited the tail-end waterways nor any action has so far been taken against corrupt irrigation officials and water thieves.
Small growers at the tail-end waterways of Dadu and Johi canals of Dad and Johi irrigation sub-divisions here on Saturday demanded action against executive engineer irrigation Dadu for selling irrigation water to influential landlords and mismanagement in the distribution of water.
Affected growers have threatened to commit suicide in front of the grave of Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux, if sale of water is not stopped to big landlords and their complete water share is not released.
The tail-end small growers of Khudabad waterway originating from Dadu canal also staged a protest demonstration led by Imam Bux Khushik.
Speaking on the occasion, Imam Bux Khushik said that sowing of wheat crop had started but small growers were not getting their due share of water. He said that Khudabad waterway had dried up from RD21 to RD35 and said that due to the sale of water to big landlords by the irrigation officials, small growers of Khudabad were unable to cultivate 50,000 acres.
He said that Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq had also directed the irrigation engineer Southern division Dadu, Bahi Khan Lakho, but he did not pay any heed to the problem as a result of which small growers of Khudabad waterway were still facing a severe shortage of water.
Affected grower of Pacca waterway, Laloo Lund complained that Pacca water had dried up from RD35 to RD65 due to mismanagement in the distribution of irrigation water. He said that he went to the office and house of engineer to complain about the problem but he refused to even meet him.
He threatened that small growers would commit self immolation in front of the tomb of Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux if their due share of water was not released to Pacca waterway.
Meanwhile, affected growers of Pahore waterway originating from Johi branch also staged a protest against tampering of modules and the sale irrigation water to big growers. They were led by Khair Mohammad Leghari.
Khair Mohammad Leghari said that owing to mismanagement in distribution of water, Pahore waterway from RD10 to RD40 had dried up.
He appealed to President Zardari to direct the Sindh Irrigation Minister and secretary to establish a camp at Dadu and take action against corrupt officials of the irrigation department and ensure supply of water up to the tail-end enabling growers to cultivate wheat crop.