Scores of villagers staged protests on Monday against the district authority’s failure to drain out rain and floodwaters inundating their fields and villages in Matiari district.

The delay in draining the rain and flood water which is keeping towns, villages, and agricultural fields submerged have been triggering protests across Sindh on a daily basis.

The protesters blocked the National Highway at the Khebar in Matiari district and gave a sit-in on both sides of the roads effectively blocking traffic between Punjab and Sindh provinces.  The National Highway remained clogged with traffic for hours.

The protesters urged the authorities to immediately drain floodwaters from their villages.

They told the media persons that they were residing on the main roads for the last two months but no relief activity was started in their areas to drain out the water. They said that they had been compelled to live in makeshift huts due to the inundation of their villages under flood water.

The participants chanted slogans against the local administration complaining that their villages and agricultural fields have remained under water since early August but the authorities are not deliberately draining the water out. The wheat season is around the corner while flood waters are still standing at our fields, they said.

The residents of various villages and towns of Matiari district were chanting slogans against the district administration and the provincial government, said almost a month has passed since it last rained but their neighbourhoods are still under water. They said the stagnant water is spreading malaria, gastro, and other diseases.

They also alleged that relief aid is being given to the favourites.

They said that they held talks with DC Matiari about 15 days ago. But the authorities did not supply oil to them for draining the water.  

Reporter: Iftikhar Memon