DADU, Dec 14: Water experts have found toxic level of 4,800 particles per million (PPM) in Manchhar Lake water and suggested installation of treatment plants to make it fit for human consumption. They expressed the fear that failure to do so might cause deaths and disease.

A team of water experts led by Dr Mohammad Ahsan Siddique visited Manchhar lake and took water samples from the lake at Bund Manchhar near Bubak village and found 4,800 PPM of toxic dissolved salts (TDS) in the lake water.

The team also took water samples from Indus River at upstream and downstream of Kotri Barrage and found 300 to 450 PPM of TDS in the water of Indus River.

Owing to release of polluted water of Main Nara Valley Drain (MNV) water and recent rains in the western parts of Dadu, fresh water of Manchhar lake was contaminated and water level has increased from 112.3 feet reduced level (RL) to 113 feet RL

Water level can damage embankments of the lake hence the irrigation officials as a preventive measure, had started releasing 450 cusec of contaminated water of lake into the Indus through Aral Wah.

After taking samples Dr Mohammad Ahsan Siddique said that toxic level of Manchhar lake has increased as continuous flow of water from MNV drain into the lake had changed the quality of water.

Consumption of this water may cause fatal diseases as recent sample tests revealed that toxic level of Manchhar lake had shot up to 4,800 against the accepted toxic level for human consumption of 500 PPM.

He said that he had established camp at Sehwan on the directives of district nazim of Hyderabad.

He said that four officials were posted to monitor water toxic situation at Manchhar lake and Indus River. He said that owing to raise in the level of Manchhar lake, irrigation officials were releasing contaminated water into Indus.

He said after releasing water into Indus River, samples were taken from Indus River at up and down stream of Kotri barrage where toxic level was found 300 to 450 PPM

Mohammad Paryal Mallah resident of Gaheecha village of Manchhar lake said that increase in toxic level had reduced fish breeding which had affected income of the local fishermen.

A fisherman Nabi Bux said that the only solution was to divert contaminated water of MNV drain into the sea through RBOD drain.

Another fisherman of Manchhar Bahadur Ali Mallah said that use of contaminated water was causing deaths and recalled death of a boy Guddo, aged six months, due to gastro.

Abdul Karim of Abdul Karim Mallah village said that Zarina wife of Ali Mallah died due to water-borne disease.

A social worker Kahdim Hussain working in health sector at Manchhar lake said that there was no health equipments in the unit and around Manchhar Lake. He said that around 70 per cent of fishermen had contracted different diseases.

He said that the situation was alarming in Manchhar lake but heath officials were not visiting the affected areas.

He said that he had contacted EDO health Jamshoro and requested for health teams but his response was almost negative.

Hassan Mallah of Dilawar Mallah village said that Sadal, 25, wife of Pir Dino, died due to hepatitis.