KARACHI: Sindh Environment Minister Ismail Rahoo, while expressing concern over the rapid depletion of agricultural lands, said Sunday that if the builder of housing schemes on agricultural lands were not stopped, then food shortage and increase in environmental pollution would become inevitable in a few years.

Rahoo in his statement issued further said that eradication of agricultural lands and setting up of housing societies on those was dangerous for agricultural economy and environment. Shortages of important crops like wheat, cotton and rice might also occur, he said and added that due to water scarcity, heatwave and climate change in Sindh, the production of important crops was being adversely affected.

He observed that most of residential societies on agricultural land were being made without completing the legal requirements. Rahoo, while instructing the officers, said that strict action should be taken against those illegally cultivating fertile lands in urban and rural areas as residential colonies. DCs of respective districts should stop those who are setting up residential societies on agricultural lands, he concluded.