MIRPURKHAS, Aug 13: Continuous shortage of water in the seven talukas of this district had rendered thousands of acres of land uncultivated, local growers told this scribe.

They complained shortage of water was engineered one as it was caused by the sale of water to landlords by the Irrigation officials.

They alleged the area Irrigation officials had allowed landlords even to use pumping machines for getting water directly from distributaries.

Over 300 cases of water theft against landlords were lying pending with different police stations, they said, adding no legal action was taken against the SDOs, XENs and overseers, who encouraged water theft.—Correspondent