SIDA chairman orders crackdown against water theft

HYDERABAD, Jul 01 (APP):Chairman of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) Qabool Muhammad Khatiyan has ordered a comprehensive operation against water theft after taking serious notice of the acute water shortage in Badin district.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the directives were issued during the chairman’s visit to the tail-end areas of Tando Muhammad Khan, Matli and Badin, where he met local growers to hear their concerns regarding irrigation water supplies. During the visit, SIDA chairman also inspected various sections of the Phulleli Canal and reviewed the prevailing water situation.

Speaking on the occasion, the SIDA chairman said that the ongoing water shortage had delayed the cultivation of rice and cotton crops. He noted that water availability in the irrigation system remained significantly lower than demand.

He added that although irrigation engineers and field staff were working around the clock to ensure water reached tail-end areas, however, complaints had been received about water theft by some individuals, and an immediate operation had been ordered to prevent this.

Khatiyan made it clear that no leniency would be shown to anyone found involved in water theft. He added that delayed water supplies had severely affected the cultivation of paddy and cotton.

Director of the Left Bank Canals Area Water Board Abdul Wahid Kandhir informed the chairman that executive engineers and their staff were conducting round the clock patrols to improve water distribution across the canal network.

Executive engineers and other concerned officials also accompanied the chairman during the visit. Growers presented complaints regarding inadequate water supply, water theft and violations of the rotational water distribution system (warabandi), several of which were resolved on the spot.