HYDERABAD: Sindh Abadgar Ittehad (SAl) has strongly opposed opening of link canals on Indus river after end of flood season and called for closing them immediately.

The SAI leaders who met with Nawab Zubair Talpur in the chair noted that the link canals of Tausna-Panjnad and ChashmaJhelum were opened and water flows were being diverted to them. The canals could only work when there was flood in the river, noted the meeting.

It expressed concern over increasing electricity tariff after withdrawal of subsidy and said it would certainly increase cost of production. The tariff increase by Rs45 per unit was unaffordable by farmers, said the meeting and called for fixing electricity bills for agriculture sector.

It regretted that wheat crop had started reaching the market but procurement centres had not yet been opened and condemned unjustified deductions from mustard crop in the market and drop in its price from Rs10,000 to Rs6,500.

Mr Talpur said that vegetable prices had been cut as well and tomato growers were terminating their crop due to inadequate prices.

The meeting expressed concern over increase in the price of fertiliser and its black-marketing. The director general of agriculture extension was informed in writing about the issue but he did not take any action, which indicated a nexus between agriculture officials and fertiliser companies, it said. The meeting called for controlling black-marketing and fertiliser prices and demanded action against the traders selling unregistered and spurious seeds.

The meeting said that last year`s floodwater had not yet been drained out while another monsoon was round the corner. It warned if Sarfaraz canal was closed again then a sit-in would be held at Kissana Mori regulator.