TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of farmers from various villages blocked TobaKhikha-Pirmahal road on Sunday in protest against sudden, unscheduled suspension of water supply to Gogera and Jhang branch canals, apprehending loss of their cash crops.

Farmers from Khikha, Chuttana, Rajana, Janiwala and Pirmahal areas gathered at Khikka village from where they marched on Toba-KhikhaPirmahal road and blocked it for traffic for half an hour.

According to protesting farmers the water supply to these canals was suddenly suspended on October 5 for a month.PML-N MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq also joined the farmers protest to show solidarity with them.

Addressing the protesters, office-bearers of various farmers` organisations, along with chairmen and vice-chairmen of union councils, said that as a result of suspension of water supply for one month their crops of cotton, maize and sugarcane would be destroyed while they would be unable to sow wheat, fodder and canola crops.

They added that canals have been closed on the pretext of construction and widening of head-works at Khanki (Hafizabad) without consulting farmers who are the major stakeholders.They warned of a massive protest rally af ter 10th of Muharram at Toba, if water supply to the canals was not restored.

MPA Mr Rafiq told the protesters quoting Punjab irrigation secretary even if the water was restored temporarily, the canals would be closed again from Oct 20 as there was insuf ficient water in River Chenab.Faisalabad area water board member Arif Zahid announced full support to the protesters if water supply was not restored.

Others who also spoke included UC chairmen Ghulam Mustafa, Hanif Anjum, Arif Saeed, Munir Ahmad, besides farmers` leaders Faqir Muhammad, Ashraf, Manzoor Ahmad, Latif, Haji Razzaq and Shahid Iqbal Hiraj.