BADIN: The irrigation officials late Tuesday night illegally opened the closed outfalls of Akram Wah despite the Supreme Court’s verdict of keeping the outfalls closed.
The water supply to more than 50 canals was shut due to an illegal water flow in outfalls and water theft which, consequently, damaged crop cultivation spread across thousand acres. This has also deprived people of clean drinking water.
According to the Irrigation Department’s sources, more than 40 thousand acres of Sukkur barrage is being cultivated illegally on the water of Akram Wah, initially, through small pipes; later the influentials started stealing water openly for a long time but the department had only permission to use six inches pipes for rehabilitation of the forest nursery only.
The irrigation sources said that a ‘nationalist’ was also involved in the water theft and cultivating hundreds of acres of Sukkur barrage by getting illegal water from Akram Wah.
Earlier, the outfalls were closed following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict but last night the irrigation officials have moved all restrictions from Akram Wah and opened the outfalls ruining the crops spread across thousands of the acres.
Source said that the opening of the outfalls of Akram Wah directly reduced the water flow of many canals, including Kazia Wah, Mir Wah, Morejhar Canal, Gurho Canal, Kamaro Miner, Raj Wah, Mor Canal, Ghar Canal, Ali Wah, Adam Wah, Shadi Large Canal, Shadi Small Canal and other canals of the district Badin, creating difficulties for farmers.
While protesting hundreds of small growers, including Jahan Khan Chandio, Mubarak Chandio, Akhtar Arain, Riaz Ahmed and others demanded the Sindh chief minister to take an immediate action against the irrigation officials.
