CHARSADDA, Aug 16: The farmers of Rajar Mera have demanded of the government to start work on reconstruction of the crumbling British-era bridges on various irrigation channels within ten days otherwise they would stage a sit-in and stop paying Abiana (irrigation tax).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the farmers at Mera Rajar on Tuesday. The meeting was addressed by Agri Forum, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, president Murad Ali Khan, and farmers’ representatives Kamal Khan, Haji Rizwanullha, Javed Khan, Adam Khan, Sher Afzal Khan and others.

They demanded of the government to take necessary measures to rebuild the British-era bridges. They said many bridges had collapsed into the canals obstructing smooth flow of water to their farmlands. They said these bridges should be demolished and new ones should be established.

They also lashed at the irrigation department for depriving them of their due share of irrigation water for the last two years.

Later the farmers staged a protest rally and a sit-in in the area.

RAMAZAN PACKAGE: The Islamic Relief Pakistan has distributed Ramazan food package among thousands of flood affected people in Charsadda.

The programme manager, Islamic Relief Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Farooq Khan and other office-bearers distributed the food items among the affected people in Hassan Khel Sardaryab.

Farooq Khan said alongside reconstruction and rehabilitation process the distribution of food and non-food items among the flood affected people will also continue.

He said 1,500 affected people each from Charsadda and Nowshera had got the Ramazan food packages.