DADU: The irrigation authorities on Sunday started the process of syphoning big volumes of Manchhar Lake water to release them into the Indus in order to shed the lake’s load that had increased to a great extent and it was feared that the pressure could damage the dykes.

Although, the pressure had been mounting due to back-to-back spells of monsoon downpour last week in the surroundings of the lake, like other parts of Sindh, the lake’s water level did not touch the highest level of 130RL. Till Sunday, it was measured at 117.1RL.

Since the rainfall stopped on Saturday and the Indus level also did not rise to the danger level, the irrigation authorities decided to release Manchhar Lake’s water into the Indus to reduce the bowl pressure and save populated areas around the lake from possible flooding.

Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro and his department’s secretary and other officials had very recently visited Manchhar Lake, Aral Wah and other water bodies to assess the post-rain situation. They appeared satisfied that the lake’s dykes were strong enough to withstand current pressure.

The process of syphoning the lake’s water was started from the head and tail of Aral Wah regulators.

Around 15,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) was being released from Manchhar Lake into the Indus.

Executive Engineer Imtiaz Hussain Abro of the Shahbaz division at Sehwan, told the media that the flood risk associated with Manchhar Lake and the Main Nara Valley Drain (MNVD) had now been effectively mitigated. He said that currently, Manchhar Lake was receiving 30,000 cusecs from the MNVD and other sources.

He said that responding to the situation and under the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, efforts to complete work on the MNVD embankment had been initiated.

He said the project, spanning from Zero Point to RD20 was aimed at reinforcing the embankments to prevent flooding. He said that the pace of work had been expedited in view of the forecast of more rains.

Mr Abro said that all necessary measures were being taken to manage safe levels in lakes and other water bodies.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2024