THATTA, June 22: The initial release of water into the River Indus downstream Kotri after a lapse of five years has created a sense of jubilation among growers and fishermen of the Thatta and Badin districts.

On Friday, the water upstream Kotri was 42,351 cusecs out of which 7,011 cusecs were released downstream.

According to the experts, the water release would revitalize thousands of acres of forest along the banks of the river below Kotri and improve the ecosystem of the Indus Delta. It will also lend a new lease of life to mangrove swamps and shrimp nurseries in the Indus estuaries.

Fishermen of the region have started repairing their vessels and the farming community was hoping to reclaim their lands.

The 1991 Water Accord called for 10 million acre feet of water to flow into the Arabian sea, which, the experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, believe is not enough to sustain the ecosystem of the Indus Delta. They suggest 27 MAF of water release into the sea per year.

HYDERABAD: The Kotri Barrage authorities on Sunday released 15,406 cusecs of water downstream Kotri while the water level upstream Kotri was recorded at 51,599 cusecs of water.