NAUNDERO:The enraged paddy growers of over 20 villages held a protest demonstration and blocked Sukkur-Larkana Highway near Panjudero village against non-supply of irrigation water from Rice Canal to their lands which are drying and their saplings are burning.
They were holding paddy saplings in their hands and were shouting slogans against irrigation department engineers. Hundreds of vehicles from both sides of Larkana and Sukkur came to standstill due to which passengers suffered very badly in this scorching heatwave. Worst affected were the government and non-government servants and patients who had to reach to their destinations on time and to get medical treatment to remain alive. While talking to newsmen growers Ishaque Channo, Iqbal Dayo, Abdul Ghafoor Joyo, Pir Bux Channo, Saeed Abro and others alleged that water is released into Rice Canal from Sukkur Barrage just for four months annually during which rice is cultivated and paddy saplings are sown.
They said the first regulator is at Naundero from where water has not yet been given due to which front growers of over 20 villages including Panjudero, Wandh Ali Muhammad, Jat Bhutta, Kertia, Chahwan, Salah Ji Wandh, Sodho Jeho, Chanbh Jeho, Allhando Jeho and others are facing hardships.
They asked that when front tillers are facing acute water scarcity what would be the condition of peasants who are at tail ends. They said their paddy saplings are burning for which we are feeling unrest. They alleged that irrigation water is denied to them because we refused to give illegal gratification to Irrigation Department Executive Engineer and SDO due to which they opened the doors of Naundero Regulator of Rice Canal.
They said that due to doors’ opening the level of water has gone down which has caused the trouble. They further said that large number of taxes are recovered from growers but they are denied water supply which is a highly condemn able act.
They urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take notice of the highhandedness of irrigation engineers and order them to ensure supply of water to all the growers so that sowing paddy could be made on time. Naundero Police SHO intervened and called XEN Ahmed Nawaz Chandio to hold talks with the protesting growers to resolve the issue but Chandio asked them to talk to Chief Engineer Sukkur. The growers threatened that if the issue is not resolved they will again block the highway for acceptance of their just demand.