National Party Alleges Irrigation Mismanagement and Water Theft Amid Growing Agricultural Crisis in Balochistan

Dera Murad Jamali: The National Party has accused the Balochistan Irrigation Department of failing to ensure the fair distribution of irrigation water, alleging corruption and water theft by influential groups that it says have pushed the province’s agricultural heartland into a severe crisis.

In a statement, National Party Balochistan General Secretary Changiz Hayee Baloch said the Nasirabad Division, widely known as Balochistan’s “Green Belt,” is facing a serious agricultural emergency due to water shortages and poor irrigation management.

He said the districts of Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad, Sohbatpur, and Dera Murad Jamali are central to Balochistan’s agricultural economy, producing rice, wheat, and other cash crops. According to him, insufficient water in canals and an ineffective water distribution system have left farmers struggling to save their crops, with rice seedlings reportedly drying up and growers facing heavy financial losses.

Changiz Hayee Baloch alleged that the Irrigation Department has failed to ensure equitable water distribution, claiming that influential individuals are obtaining irrigation water while small farmers are being deprived of their share.

He warned that if irrigation supplies are not restored promptly, the current crop season could suffer significant losses, adversely affecting agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods across the province.

The National Party leader called on the Balochistan government and the Irrigation Department to immediately restore water supplies to canals and ensure fair distribution of irrigation water. He also warned that the party would expand its protest campaign alongside farmers if the situation is not addressed.

The allegations reflect the National Party’s position. No official response from the Balochistan government or the Irrigation Department was immediately available.