Acute water shortage has hit cotton sowing in Badin where growers are facing heavy financial losses. Growers of five Talukas are facing the onslaught as standing sugarcane, banana, and vegetable crops are not being supplied water. They have held several demonstrations demanding of irrigation minister and concerned officials to ensure regular water supply, but in vain.
The Sindh Abadgar Board Badin official Shah told this correspondent that water shortage has artificially been created as there is no such shortage in irrigation system, and alleged mismanagement for the shortage. Lack of planning has put growers on stake. Tail-enders are worst sufferers because of landlords who allegedly procure water from the staff, he lamented.
He said the system is old and branches, minors and canals are filled with silt. He said though the department gets sufficient funds every year for silt cleaning but the work is rarely carried out. The department also does not involve growers' association in it, he added. In Badin, he said, more than 50 percent growers are still waiting for water to sow their cotton crop.