Hundreds of farmers belonging to Naseerabad division held a protest against mismanagement, corruption and lack of agricultural water for their agriculture lands.
A large rally led by tribal leader Sardarzada Baba Ghulam Rasool was taken out in Dera Murad Jamali right up to the National Highway.
The growers staged a sit-in outside the Quetta Press Club and chanted slogans vociferously against “corrupt elements.” Rasool demanded the authorities to look into the matter of the Pat Feeder Canal that provides water to farmers.
“Due to corruption, farmers lose a lot of money,” he said, adding that corrupt elements have looted millions of rupees in the name of cleanliness apart from disrupting the entire system of the Pat Feeder Canal.
The protestors carried placards demanding justice. “We do not accept anything from the provincial government nor do the local representatives want to revive the Pat Feeder Canal.” They urged higher authorities to take notice otherwise they will keep protesting and extend it to major cities.
The protestors also highlighted how there was shortage of water in the canal at a seasonal time. “Although the designed canal is formulated for 7,000 cusec of water, we hardly receive 3,000 cusec in the canal which is insufficient during the Khareef season.”
One of the speakers said, “Naseerabad is the green belt of Balochistan which is going to turn into a barren land soon if the Pat Feeder Canal does not get revived on priority.”
He added that, “Due to mismanagement and corruption, the lands of farmers remain uncultivated which is causing monetary problems.”
Former minister Babu Mohammad Ameen Umrani, JUI-F’s provincial deputy general secretary Mir Nizam Uddin Lehri, and other local leaders were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2020.
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