HYDERABAD, May 4: Growers of the Basra-II waterway of Khairpur-Ganbo sub-division have expressed concern over the shortage of water in the waterway for the last 45 days.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Tuesday, Qazi Faizullah, Aslam Kaimkhani, Qazi Noor Mohammad, Mohammad Usman Memon and others said that growers would not be able to cultivate crops if the situation persisted.

They said that the waterway, one of the four channels of the Naseer Canal, was supposed to irrigate 12,000 acres of land. Accusing irrigation officials of corruption, growers said that Basra-II SDO Raheem Qureshi and executive engineer Hafiz Sattar Memon had been running affairs in their own style as there was no schedule of water rotation.

They said that Jarkas, Sangi and Khoskhi channels of the Naseer Canal were supplied water after every eight days but there was no supply to the Basra-II channel for 45 days.

Reading from a written text, the growers alleged that irrigation officials were demanding bribe for operating the regulator of the waterway. They said that it was evident from the fact that Dambalo down and Sangi waterways were getting full supply of water but no supply was ensured to Basra-II channel.

They further alleged that water was being provided to Chang, Basra-I, Aliabad and Kamaro distributaries on payment of gratification. They accused SDO Qureshi of issuing threats to them and said he was not ready to provide water without being paid money.

Fearing that the situation would lead to loss of livestock and starvation of growers, they called for immediate action against the SDO and other irrigation officials for denying them water supply. Meanwhile, growers staged a sit-in outside the irrigation office in Sadar area, demanding supply of water to the Basra-II waterway.

HARASSMENT ALLEGED: Two residents of Jamshoro Colony, Gul Mohammad Pathan and his son Imran Pathan, have accused labour councillor Hakimzadi and her husband Bashir Ahmed Soomro of harassing them in order to occupy their place.

They appealed to the authorities to provide them protection against the councillor and her husband. Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Tuesday, they said that Hakimzadi, who was their neighbour, had staged a farce of kidnapping of her son in order to implicate them in a false case.

They said that they could not even think of such a shameful act and added that the they were ready to face consequences if the allegation against them was proved. They alleged that their neighbour had issued them threats of serious consequences and implicating them in false cases of arms or drugs, claiming that they had good connections in police and administration.

They said that if any harm came to them or any member of their family, Hakimzadi and her husband would be held responsible.