Sanghar(Hasnain Ashiq Saand) Farmers protest prolonged water shortage in Sanghar Minor, move court

TANDO ADAM: Farmers in the tail-end areas of Sanghar Minor have protested against a severe water shortage persisting for the past five months, alleging that the continued disruption in supply has caused widespread crop damage and financial losses.

Agriculturists from the command area of Jam Branch Sub-Division-I said that due to persistent water scarcity and rotational supply issues, standing crops including cotton, onion, banana, sugarcane and other seasonal crops over thousands of acres have dried up. They warned that losses worth millions of rupees were likely.

Led by Nabi Bakhsh Malkani, Sher Muhammad Rajput, Karam Ali Malkani and Dhani Bakhsh Malkani, the affected growers staged a protest demonstration and raised slogans against the irrigation authorities. The protesters accused the department of mismanagement and failure to ensure equitable water distribution to tail-end growers.

They also alleged that the required de-silting of the channel was not properly carried out despite the fact that growers had contributed around Rs1.4 million through self-help arrangements to improve water flow.

The farmers further claimed that 27 watercourses at the head reach were damaged, while allegations of corrupt practices in the distribution of irrigation water were also raised.

The protesters said they had filed a petition in court seeking judicial intervention and urged authorities to take immediate notice of the situation. They warned that the protest would be expanded if the water supply was not restored without delay.

The farmers appealed to senior irrigation and district authorities to ensure fair and uninterrupted water distribution to save remaining standing crops in Tando Adam and surrounding areas.