STAFF REPORT HYD: The two-month long sporadic protests and long marches of the farmers, belonging to the tail reaches of the Kotri barrages irrigation network, are still continuing despite the Sindh CMs visit to Umerkot and Badin districts to resolve the issue.
According to the estimates of the Sindh Abadgar, rice seed worth Rs4 billion have been lost as the lands where the seed was sown could not get water. The cost of other inputs and labour as well as the expected earnings from the fields, if the crops would have been cultivated and harvested, amount to billions of rupees.
On the occasion, the CM acknowledged that the water shortage has affected and reduced the cultivation.
The farmers told the CM that corrupt officials of the irrigation department are involved in corrupt practices.
They also shouted slogans against the provincial governments relevant officials behind this whole crisis.
Water Boards Nara Canal Director, Ghulam Mustafa Ujjar, admitted at a briefing in Naukot town that they have failed to curb water theft.