The complete and crippling half-day shutdown was observed in most towns and cities of the Badin district on Tuesday on the call of Save Badin Action Committee against the persistent water shortage in the district for past nine months
BADIN (Pakistan Point News / NNI - 02nd April, 2019) The complete and crippling half-day shutdown was observed in most towns and cities of the Badin district on Tuesday on the call of Save Badin Action Committee against the persistent water shortage in the district for past nine months.The bazaars in the mostly towns and cities including in Badin, Golarchi, Tando Bago, Pangrio, Talhar, Khoski, Tarai, Rajo Khanani, Shadi Large, Dei, Kadhan, Kario Ghanwar, Malkani Sharif, Seerani, Khorwah and other small towns presented the deserted look as the shops, businesses centers and other outlets remained closed more than 8 hours by the traders to show their solidarity with the protesting farmers against the nagging water crisis.
The farmers, traders and men from different walks of life also staged the demonstrations in many towns to register their protest against the officials of SIDA and irrigation officials, who according to them, were depriving them of their due share of water by erecting the blockages and providing the water to flood canals at a time when most parts of the district were facing the worst water shortage.They deplored that the nagging water crisis had greatly damaged their economy and people finding no respite from the worsening situations were migrating to cities in search of their livelihood leaving behind their homes and the fertile lands.
Due to shut-down and the protest demonstrations commuters faced the hardships as the traffic flow on various roads was badly affected.Other hand the leaders of the committee including Khalil Ahmed Bhurgari, Azizullah Dero, Mir Noor Ahmed Talpur and others also held a meeting with members of the technical committee headed by the known water expert Mr. Idrees Rajput, DC Badin Mohammad Hafeez Siyal., Mr. Jamaluddin Wagan the project director of World Bank -funded Water Sector Improvement Project (WISP) and others in Darbar Hall in DC office in Badin on Tuesday.
The members of farmers' committee insisted on the immediate removal of the blockages, diversions and providing water to the flood canals forthwith. While Mr. Wagan, Khalid Memon and other officials of both irrigation and SIDA claimed that they had undertaken the work on the creating the blockages with a view to ensure the fair and equitable water distribution among all the farmers of the district.Expert, Mr. Idrees Rajput speaking on the occasion said that he would do his work honestly so that the genuine concerns of the farmers could be addressed after assessing the situations.
Mr. Rajput sought time both from farmers and government officials so that he could again visit the site and go through the complaints of the farmers and claims by officials minutely adding he said that members of technical committee would again meet on April 23 at the same venue to discuss more on the issue so that consensus could be built on such sensitive issues. The water expert and right activist Professor Mushtaq Mirani was also present during the meeting, who insisted the government officials to redress the grievances of the farmers and other people of Badin district.
After the meeting the members of 'Save Badin Action Committee' including Khalil Ahmed Bhurgari and Azizullah Dero talking to this reporter thanked the traders of the entire district for their full cooperation with them in their struggle against the water theft by observing the shutdown. They said that they would continue their peaceful protest till their demands were met. NNI
