Daily Times

Sir: Nature was kind enough this monsoon to shower blessing to break long spells of drought. But cruelty of system does not allow this blessing to reach those who need it most. When major parts of Sindh are facing flood and high flood alerts are being issued, the farmers from barrage area of Johi continue their protest as no drop of water is released in their water courses.Our past generations fought with British raj and sacrificed their lives to get independent homelandbut instead of bringingimprovement in one of the best irrigation system put in place by the British our own system has abused this wonder of world on such extent thateven during floods,areas like Johiare yearning for drop of water.

On the one hand lands of big up and midstream landlords in Mehar and KN Shah Tehsils of Dadu district are spoiled by salinity and water logging due to excessive use of water and on the other thousands of acre of land in Johi remain barren for last three decades. The protest and media reporting on the issue for last three decades, migration of hundreds of families and remaining 300,000 souls suffering drought has not melted the hard hearts of power holders.The cries, sighs, and suffering of farmers have lost their effect. The suffering communities of Johi have lost their last hopes in Apex courts and all powerful stakeholders where should the look for.

GULSHER PANHWER

Johi