Taking advantage: ‘Illegal canal breaches damaging infrastructure’

Conviction can lead to imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs5,000.

KARACHI: Some landlords are making illegal breaches in drains and canals in Badin, Benazirabad (former Nawabshah), Mirpurkhas, and Sanghar to drain water from their lands, the irrigation department said on Thursday.

“No one has the right to make cuts in canals in order to release water to the other side,” said the spokesman. “It affects people and damages infrastructure on the other side.”

The official warned of strict action against the people involved. “The case can be lodged under sections 61, 62 and 62 B of the Sindh Irrigation Act,” he said. He added that a conviction can lead to two years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs5,000.

But MPA Muhammad Nawaz Chandio of the Pakistan Peoples Party, who is also a landlord in Badin, told The Express Tribune that the breaches have been caused because “the officials did not de-silt these canals”.

No other landlord is involved in cutting the canal and damaging infrastructure. “We asked these officials to stop releasing water into the canals after the heavy rains, but they did not pay any heed,” said Chandio. This situation has led to breaches in canals and the Left Bank Outfall Drain creating a big disaster in our areas, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th,  2011.