DADU: Irrigation department officials with the help of Rangers personnel sealed 40 tampered watercourses and registered FIRs against 40 influential water thieves in a massive drive against water theft from Dadu Canal, Johi branch and 25 more waterways on Thursday.

Irrigation teams backed by Rangers personnel found modules and watercourses originating from Dadu Canal, Johi branch, Khudabad Shakh, Noor Wah, Bego Deero Shakh and Phakka Shakh tampered with and registered FIRs against big 40 landlords at police stations in Dadu, Khudabad, Moundar, Makhdoom Bilawal and Khairpur Nathan Shah under Sections 61 and 62 of irrigation act.

Superintending engineer of the irrigation department`s southern circle, Sajid Ali Bhutto, said that illegal cuts and hindrances, illegal pipes and water lifting machines had been removed from canals and waterways and all tampered watercourses had been sealed to supply water to the tail-end areas.