Sindh's caretaker minister for Irrigation Mushtaq Ahmed Shah has warned the water thieves to avoid breaking water modules; otherwise, strict action will be taken against them. "No one will be allowed to steal water, no matter how much influential one may be," he alerted.
On his directives, a drive against water theft is already going on in full swing across the province. Rangers, police and officers of irrigation department conducted a joint operation against illegal water connections and water theft in Benazirabad and registered a case against four accused.
Similarly, a joint team also removed 59 illegal water lines in Sukkur, seven in Sanghar and 59 Khairpur and registered cases against those who were found guilty of stealing water from water courses
Mushtaq Ahmed Shah has also taken notice of growers' protest against shortage of water in Mangio and Khuhawar canals and asked the concerned executive engineer (XEN) to immediately redress the issue and take appropriate action against the irrigation officials if they are found involved in selling water.
He asserted he would not tolerate malpractices in the department and corrupt officials would be taken to task.
In addition to irrigation department, Mushtaq Shah also holds the portfolios of Public Health Engineering & Rural Development, Inter-Provincial Coordination and Excise and Taxation.