Water woes: Farmers to protest canal closure today

Farmers had decided to stage a demonstration against the closure

FAISALABAD: Farmers of Dijkot said on Monday they would stage a demonstration on Tuesday (today) to protest prolonged closure of Rakh Branch Canal. Insaf Kissan Forum general secretary Sajjad Randhawa told The Express Tribune that Rakh Branch Canal had been shut down by the Irrigation Department in December 2014 for annual repair and maintenance. He said it had not been reopened since then. “There is no water for irrigation,” he said. “Farmers of Dijikot complained have about problems they are facing as a result of the closure but no action has been taken.” He said farmers from Dijkot and neighbouring areas had held a meeting on Sunday and had decided to stage a demonstration against the closure. He said farmers would gather at Roshanwala Bypass and march to the secretariat of the district government. He said the protesters would stage a protest sit-in at Zila Council Chowk and their protest would continue till water was released in the canal.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2015.