July 19, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1429

HYDERABAD, July 18: The Abadgar Action Committee on Friday criticised continuation of the water rotation programme even after improved water level in the river and demanded a judicial inquiry into the Rohri Canal breach, which inundated hundreds of acres of land and several villages.

The committee chairman, Allah Bachayo Zounr, said at a news conference at the press club that the water rotation programme in the Massu sub-division despite availability of enough water in the river had caused huge losses to growers.

He said that nepotism, favouritism and corruption among irrigation officials had been the direct cause of rendering tens of thousands of acres of rich agricultural land of Massu sub-division barren. The tail-end growers did not receive even a drop of water, he claimed.

He said that installation of illegal pipes, cuts in waterways and lifting of water through lift machines had become the order of the day and there was no law for water thieves.

Mr Zounr appealed to the government and the irrigation minister to take notice of corrupt practices of irrigation officers. Despite repeated complaints to the chief engineer of Sukkur Barrage, no action had been taken to solve the problems, he said.

He held water rotation programme responsible for the massive breach in Rohri Canal, which he said had rendered the canal’s embankments weak and unable to withstand pressure.

He warned that if the rotation programme was not ended within two days, growers would launch a movement against the department and demanded that water supply should be ensured to the tail-end.

He blamed the superintendent engineer of Rohri Circle for the huge losses to growers from the breach in Rohri Canal and demanded a judicial inquiry into the breach.—Bureau