LARKANA, June 29: Continuous water shortage in the Dakhan Branch of the Warah Canal, coupled with accumulation of silt in the water channel and its tributaries, is threating to turn barren the lands in the Ratodero taluka fed through the waterways.

A survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that despite repeated calls by the growers, particularly those whose lands lied at the tail-ends of the waterways, water situation in the Dakhan Shakh and its tributaries — Masoodero, Khatyan, Brohi, Tayyab, Mirpur Bhutto and Jari Wahs — had not improved.

As a result, lands located around Thalho Ghanghro, Bado Jalbani, Yaro Jalbani, Jaro Khan, Mehar Ghanghro, Lashari, Jeha and Saleh Machhi and other villages have been badly affected.

A grower, Syed Imam Ali Shah, said that paddy saplings, ready to be transplanted, were drying up for want of water. Fateh Ali expressed fear that non-availability of water might render his 80 acres of land the in Tayyab area barren.

He said that first week of June was the appropriate time for carrying out transplantation but the area usually received water in August. He added that due to the delay, their crops were prone to more pest attacks, causing them huge losses. He said that the area growers had been experiencing the situation for the last five years.

Mohammad Ismail said that he had sown paddy saplings, purchasing water from the owner of a nearby tube-well, but they were dying in embryonic stage as they did not get required water in time.

The growers said that the situation had compelled around 100 families to shift from the Masoodero village.

The tail-end of the Sadhayo Minor, that irrigates around 2,000 acre of land near Mirpur Bhutto, is also without water.

Growers Hadi Bakhsh Dahani and Ranjhan Dahani feared that shortage of water would render hundreds of acres of land barren.

They alleged that the sub-engineer of the channel was demanding bribe for supplying water to their lands. They further alleged that influential people had inserted pipes at the head of the Sadhayo Minor in connivance with the irrigation officials.

A peasant, Ali Sher Shaikh, said that he was worried about his children whom he could not sent to schools as he had no money to pay their fees and buy textbooks for them. Another grower said that he was providing food to his families through borrowed money.

Dilshad Jalbani said that the 13-km-long Dakhan Branch and its tributaries needed desilting and remodelling. Quoting a former irrigation secretary, he said remodelling of the branch could bring good days for the growers.

He said a plan of remodelling the branch had been sent to the Sindh chief minister for approval in March.

He said irrigation officials had cleared silt from a small portion of the branch but it proved fruitless as water did not reach tail-end areas.

District Nazim Khurshid Junejo also agreed that the branch needed remodelling and desilting.