950818

Abadgars urge

for early steps

to overcome

urea shortage

HAFEEZ SHAIKH

HYDERABAD: The provincial executive committee of the Sindh Abadgar Board, which met here on Friday, has expressed grave concern over the shortage of urea fertilizer in the Sindh province, and called upon the government to take necessary step to overcome the shortage of this particular fertilizer to save the 'Kharif' crops.

The President of the Board, Syed Ali Mir Shah, presided over the meeting.

The meeting urged the government to take immediate action against the blackmarketing and hoarding of urea otherwise the agricultural production will be drastically reduced.

The meeting further observed that urea should be imported before the Rabi crop.

It noted that the main cause of the shortage of urea was that the gas supply to the public sector units producing fertilizers has been curtailed.

The meeting also expressed concern over the shortage of irrigation water in many parts of the province.

WATER SHORTAGE

Citing reasons for the shortage of irrigation water, the meeting noted that the decrepit condition of water courses, corruption and political pressure had all but destroyed the standing crops.

The meeting further observed that the other reason was that during the rainy season the Irrigation Department officers always closed the canals, with the result that the standing crops in the fields dried up.

The meeting criticised the monitoring system of the Irrigation Department and demanded proper regulation of water during the rainy season.

ILLEGAL CHECK-POSTS

The meeting appealed to the Sindh government that the check-posts established by the market committee contractors on roads should be abolished. The meeting was of the opinion that these check-posts were absolutely illegal and, on the one hand the growers were being fleeced and on the other this loot was bringing a bad name to the government.

ONION CROP

The meeting demanded immediate announcement of the support price for the onion crop of 1995 and make prior arrangements for its purchase.

The meeting also demanded that the crushing season of sugarcane should start from October and no sugar mill should be allowed to blackmail the government.