Canal closure: Farmers protest ‘damage to crops’

Protesters demonstrated against closure of a canal which they said had damaged crops over hundreds of acres of land.

SARGODHA: Dozens of Sillanwali farmers on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration against closure of a canal which they said had damaged crops over hundreds of acres of land. The protesters, belonging to Chak 125, 124, 123 and 119 gathered at Mangowana and blocked the road by burning used tyres. They chanted slogans against the Irrigation Department over closure of Kalyar minor. Speaking at the occasion, Zafar Dholka and Raja Maqbool said the canal had been closed for over two months. They said groundwater in the region was brackish and could not be used for irrigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2012.