Farmers hailing from Balochistan holding a protest on July 12, 2016. PHOTO: NAEEM AHMED/ EXPRESS
SUKKUR: Hundreds of farmers and growers belonging to Jaffarabad, Balochistan, protested the shortage of water in Kirthar canal on Tuesday.
The sit-in protest at Sukkur Barrage was led by Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Mir Chengez Khan Jamali. The protesters chanted slogans against irrigation authorities, who according to them are not releasing water into the canal
Kirthar is the only canal of Sukkur Barrage which irrigates agricultural lands in Balochistan, informed Jamali. "Very little water is being released in the canal due to which our crops are drying," he said. Currently, only 8,000 cusecs of water is being released in the canal whereas its full capacity is 24,000 cusecs, he claimed.
Even though a low flood is passing through the barrage the farmers are not getting enough water for irrigation purposes, he said, adding that a widespread protest would be held if water is not supplied to farmers in Balochistan.
On this occasion, Larkana right bank chief engineer Nazir Mahar held a meeting with the protesters and assured them that water will be provided to Balochistan according to its share.
A delegation of the protesters also accompanied Mahar to Garang regulator in Shahdadkot to monitor the supply of water to Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2016.
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