Farmers protest against water theft in Naseerabad Balochistan
Ayub Bhutto :
Dera Murad Jamali: Hundreds of farmers staged a protest demonstration against increasing water-theft in the district on Tuesday. Political leaders including Baba Ghulam Rasool Umrani, former provincial minister, Babu Ameen Umrani, and others also joined the noisy protest demonstration staged by farmers of Naseerabad.
The Pat Feeder Bachao Tehrik had organized the protest demonstration against increasing water-theft in Naseerabad district. The protesters lashed out at the Balochistan Irrigation Department for what they claim its unfair distribution of water. “The Irrigation Department providing water to only blue-eyed”, Baba Ghulam Rasool Umrani lamented during the protest demonstration.
The protesters had carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans condemning the water-theft in the district. They said Sindh was already stealing Balochistan’s share of water, which has resulted in the destruction of standing crops in the area.
Financial murder
“This is financial murder of farmers”, Babu Ameen Umrani who belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said. He demanded of the provincial government to take notice of the issue and make sure just distribution of water share.
The protesters chanted slogans against what they claim ‘corrupt officers’ of the irrigation department and demanded their removal. “The protest to continue till the transfer of these officers”, Muhammad Younas Bohar from the Pat Feeder movement announced. He said the protest demonstration would intensify if the government failed to address their grievances.
The farmers claimed the unjust distribution of water has caused them huge financial losses. “We cannot suffer financial losses anymore”, Mr. Bohar said.
Green Belt of Balochistan
Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts are considered to be the green belt of Balochistan. The districts are famous for wheat, rice, cotton, and other crops. Most of the people in these two districts are dependent on the agriculture sector.
