DADU, May 2: The water level of Manchhar Lake is rising because it has been continuously receiving water from Nai Gaaj for the last three days, posing a serious threat to embankments of the lake. WHO and health officials and NGOs have opposed the release of water of Manchhar into the Indus.

A survey conducted by this correspondent on Monday, revealed that the water was flowing into Manchhar from Nai Gaaj for three days.

Earlier, the flow was 12.5 feet in Nai Gaaj, which later reduced to 1.5 feet till the filing of this report on Monday.

Vice-president, Pakistan Fishermen Forum, Ghulam Mustafa Mirani, said that water of Manchhar has become poisonous and dangerous for human lives and fish species. He said that people at Manchhar were facing different diseases like gastroenteritis, skin, eye, malaria and TB.

He said Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain’s 350 to 375 cusecs water daily was flowing into the Lake.

He regretted that poisonous water from Punjab has polluted and contaminated Manchhar. He said that water level in Manchhar Lake has reached at sensitive point and it would damage embankments, if water was not released into Indus River.

He said that on the directives of President General Pervez Musharraf, a mega project Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) was launched at a cost of Rs14 billion in 2002 to release poisonous water of MNV drain into sea but due to negligence of concerned officials, work was not completed as yet, while its cost has increased upto Rs20 billion.

He warned that if this project was not completed and water of MNV drain was not released into the sea, Manchhar Lake would die.

He said that water of Nai Gaaj was sweet while MNV drain’s water was poisonous, hence water flow from MNV drain should be stopped for revival of Manchhar.

General secretary, Manchhar Welfare Organisation, Muhammad Ali Memon told Dawn that a population of 20,000 was being affected at Manchhar after using contaminated water.

Leader of Abadgar Association at Bubak, a village at Manchhar embankment, Makhdoom Zamir Hussain, said that embankments were very weak at Kormyani portion.

He said that if a breach occurred at this point, 40 villages situated on eastern side of the lake would be inundated.

On that occasion, member of the committee to decide about releasing Manchhar Lake water into the Indus.

Executive engineer of the southern irrigation division Dadu, Ishtiaque Ahmed Memon, said that if 1000 cusecs water could be released into Indus River when flow in River is 10000 cusecs, this ratio would not affect human lives using water for drinking purpose.

He said that water level in Manchhar Lake was 109 feet RL (Reduced Level), which should be reduced to 105 feet RL. He said that meetings were going on to reach at final decision.

Assistant engineer flood protective bund, Habibullah Kabooro said that the embankments of the Manchhar Lake were weak, if this water was not released into Indus to reduce its 4-feet level, it would damage embankments and breaches could occur anytime. He said that it was a must to maintain the level of the Manchhar Lake at 105 feet RL.

He said, if 20 feet water flow in Nai Gaaj continues in the Manchhar for 24 hours, water level in the Lake would be 113 feet RL and it would overflow the embankments of the lake.

He said that if precautionary measures were not taken immediately, it would inundate Bhan Syedabad, Sehwan Sharif, railway track and Indus highway during monsoon.

He said that 350 cusecs water daily of MNV drain was also flowing into Manchhar. He said that to meet any eventuality, work at the flood protective bund and Nai Gaaj began with the Asian Bank assistance.

WHO project manager, Dr Khadim Hussain Lakhair, said that water had become more poisonous since last three months. He said that the WHO representative had taken samples of Manchhar water from 5 different spots three months back and after laboratory reports, it was declared dangerous for human consumption and the local people were advised not to use this water for drinking purpose.

He said that if water from Manchhar was released into the Indus, it would cause casualties.

He said that by using Manchhar water for drinking purpose, different diseases like gastro, TB, skin and eye have spread.

EDO health Dadu, Dr Dhani Bux Thebo, said that if government released Manchhar water into Indus River through the Danister Wah, it would affect health of the residents of Sehwan Sharif and surrounding villages. He categorically stated that water of Manchhar Lake was unfit for human consumption and could not be released into the Indus, while the quantity of water was low in the river.

DCO Jamshoro, Qabool Ahmed Shaikh, who is also a member of the committee set up to decide release of Manchhar water into the Indus, said that consultation was going on and it had reached final stages.