KARACHI: 15,000 acres of agriculture land is facing irrigation problems due to water theft in the district of Badin. The farmers demanded the Chief Minister of Sindh, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) and irrigation department to take stern action against responsible to solve the issue as soon as possible.
Farmers in a conference on Tuesday said the nexus of irrigation officials and major landholders is behind the continuous shortage of water, adding further negligence could create a Thar-like human tragedy in the province as well.
“Stumbling blocks have been thrown into the canal in order to stop water from reaching the tail-end of the province,” they said, adding influential landlords from Badin in connivance with irrigation officials have installed six illegal pipes in Akram Canal to forcefully steal the water.”
They complained that non-availability of drinking water has caused unimaginable problems to everyone including women and children in particular.
The district Badin is fed by various branches of Akram canal. The popular crops of the area are paddy, sugarcane, cotton, and sunflower.
