HYDERABAD, May 24: The chief engineer (Irrigation) of the Kotri Barrage, Mr Manzoor Sheikh, has said the irrigation department is preparing a plan for rehabilitation of the Manchhar Lake on the directives of Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad given the fact that the RBOD would take at least five years to complete.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said at present no industrial waste was being discharged into the Kalri Baghar feeder which supplied water to Kotri, Jamshoro and Keenjhar Lake for onward distribution in Thatta and Karachi.

He said irrigation officials would be deployed permanently at the points where industrial waste used to be thrown into the K.B. feeder in the past. “At present, there is no sign of disposal of industrial waste in the K.B. feeder and it has also been verified by Superintending Engineer Zafar Leghari,” Mr Manzoor Sheikh added.

Clarifying a newspaper report appeared on May 23, the chief engineer pointed out that there was a huge difference between the Manchhar and Keenjhar lakes because the former was a natural lake while the latter was created by the irrigation and power department when the barrage was constructed to provide fresh water to Thatta and Karachi.

He said the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board received around 900 to 1,000 cusecs of water daily through lake’s Keenjhar-Gujjo canal. He said no KWSB official had so far complained of contamination in water.

The chief engineer said that the condition of Manchhar Lake was quite different as it received water from the MNV drain.

Nevertheless, he said, considering the present status of Manchhar, the Sindh governor at a meeting of May 19 had directed the irrigation department to prepare long and short-term proposals for the rehabilitation of the Manchhar Lake.

He said notice had been issued to an engineer at the Kotri Barrage to ensure that no industrial waste was discharged into the river. He said the water level at Kalri was being controlled and the lake’s filling had been closed while its outflow was continuing.

About discharge of water from the Lakhra and Jamshoro power houses, he said before being released into River Indus water was utilized for power production and added that the same process was repeated at the Guddo power station. Quoting reports of water tests of Lakhra and Jamshoro, he said water was fit for consumption.