DADU: Activists of the Sindh United Party (SUP) staged a demonstration on the Mehar-Larkana Indus Highway near the Mehar bypass in protest against what they termed shortage of irrigation water in Mehar and KN Shah talukas of Dadu district.

On Monday from 9am till filing of this report at 6:30 pm, they had been protesting on the highway in the lead of local leaders of the SUP, including Sikandar Sodhar, Khadim Khaskheli and Hazoor Bux Hazoori.

Speaking to the demonstrators, the protest leaders claimed that Mehar and KN Shah talukas’ canals and waterways had the worst irrigation water deficit. They said tail-end of the Rice Canal and 12 other ones had not a drop of water.

Though the growing season of paddy and cotton had begun, the local abadgars were still experiencing artificial water shortages.

They appealed to the chief judge of the Pakistan for taking notice and order the relevant officials to give them water.

Vehicular traffic remained suspended at several locations because of the protest.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2023