MIRPURKHAS, Nov 25: Wheat sowing has been hit hard in the tail-end areas of the Nara Canal, including Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and parts of Tharparkar district, as a result of further reduction in water supply to the canal.

According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, at least 100 distributaries and minor canals are lying dry in the command area of Nara Canal and water only for drinking purpose is being supplied while farmers are unable to sow wheat crop.

Officials of irrigation department said that water availability in the canal had worsened when the irrigation authorities further reduced over 500 cusec of water at Nara head. Earlier, 8580 cusec at Nara head was supplied against the required quantity of over 14,000 cusec. Irrigation authorities reduced water supply particularly in Jamrao canal severely hitting the tail-end areas.

Irrigation authorities of Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar divisions have already restored to rotation programme under which water is being supplied to distributaries or minor canals for one week for drinking purpose after which they remain close for two weeks.

The areas which are adversely affected include Mirpurkhas, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naukot, Samaro, Kunri, Umerkot, Pithoro, Dhoronaro, Shadi Palli, Jhillori, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and parts of Diplo taluka.

The growers of the affected areas have recently staged a number of protest demonstrations demanding of the government to ensure proper supply of water to tail-end growers so that they could sow wheat crop.

A few days ago, Sindh Minister for Agriculture Syed Ali Nawaz Shah at a seminar about “Grow more wheat campaign” had assured the farmers that water situation would be improved very soon for tail-end region. Contrary to this assurance, flow of water was further reduced in the Nara Canal.

Condemning the irrigation department officers for mismanagement in distribution of water, Mirpurkhas Small Growers Association president Shamsuddin Shaikh said that Sindh government should immediately ensure proper supply of water to tail-end growers of Nara canal, otherwise wheat sowing target would not be achieved.

EDO agriculture Mirpurkhas Wali Mohammad Bughio claimed that a target of wheat sowing on 61,000 hectares was fixed for the district and said that 1/3rd (50,000 acres) of the target has been achieved agreeing at the same time that if water shortage persisted, wheat sowing target may not be achieved.

Missing peasants: A delegation of representatives of NGOs met DPO of Mirpurkhas here on Tuesday and expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation conducted by the Mirpurkhas investigation SP about 78 missing peasants.

The delegation consisting of Mirpurkhas NGOs network secretary Zahida Detho, Wajid Leghari of Sindh Nojawan Sangat and Kanji Rano Bheel advocate met DPO Muneer Ahmed Shaikh and told him of their dissatisfaction with the investigations carried out by Mirpurkhas SP investigation Noorul Haq Rind in the case of 78 missing peasants as he was allegedly supporting landlord Thakur Nazeer Kaimkhani.

They demanded that the authorities should bring all 78 missing peasants before the media and NGOs to know their free will. They said that it was a human rights issue and concerned authorities should provide an opportunity to 78 missing peasants to speak out their mind.

The DPO assured them that he would approach RPO Hyderabad and DIG Mirpurkhas in this regard to manage the gathering of 78 missing peasants before the media and NGOs to end this issue or seek an inquiry to be conducted by CIA police Hyderabad.