HYDERABAD, Dec 19: A marathon meeting to tackle the increase in water level in Manchhar Lake and further releasing the same into Indus river was held on Thursday between the Sindh Minister for Irrigation, Syed Murad Ali Shah and District Nazim Hyderabad, Kanwar Naveed Jamil at the Circuit House.

The prevailing water situation was discussed at length during the meeting which was attended by the DCO Hyderabad Ali Ahmed Lund, Secretary Irrigation Shuja Ahmed Junejo, Chief Engineer, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, water technologist, Dr Ahsan Siddiqui and other concerned officials of the HDA.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Manchhar was his hometown and its people were very dear to him. “I am at loss to see my people in distress because of water contamination and migration of fishermen from the area,” he said.

Expressing alarm over rising water level, the minister apprehended looming difficulties in case of more rains.

He believed that by taking advantage of the closure period, water level in the lake would reduce and called for evolving a strategy in this regard.

Kanwar Naveed Jamil informed that except for the district government no other agency was monitoring water quality being released from Manchchar lake into the Indus river.

He further said that water, right from the lake to filter plant, was tested at five instances after every four hours and then supplied to the people of Hyderabad.

“Water is released from the lake as per the advice of technologists and the quantum released to Downstream Sukkur kept under watch,” he said.

People living up to Jamshoro consumed the water from Manchhar lake and an excess release during closure period may seriously affect them, he warned.

A water technologist briefed about the quality of water to the minister.