SADIQABAD, Feb 27: The subsoil water in four tehsils of the district - Liaquatpur, Khanpur, Rahimyar Khan and Sadiqabad - contains high arsenic level, according to a report of the Pakistan Council of Research for Water Resources.

The survey to detect arsenic in groundwater was completed phase-wise during the period 1999-2003. The initial report says that arsenic in subsoil water in Liaquatpur, Khanpur, Rahimyar Khan and Sadiqabad tehsils and Sargodha, Jhang, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan districts was more than the permissible level.

The arsenic level in seven localities of Sadiqabad tehsil is from 51 per cent to 73 per cent, in Mauza Nawazabad 135 per cent, in Rahimyar Khan tehsil from 52 per cent to 94 per cent, Hajipura union council 146 per cent and Tibbi Gul Mohammad 156 per cent. Water in five localities of Khanpur tehsil contains 68 per cent to 90 per cent arsenic.

Many diseases are on the rise due to poisonous contents in water. In this regard, a comprehensive survey is being carried out in collaboration with the Unicef and the provincial local government and rural development department, and is likely to be completed by May 30.

SCHOOL: Building of the Boys High School, Thul Hamza, Liaquatpur tehsil, is being used as a cattle pen by the area landlords. The school building was constructed by spending millions of rupees outside the town a long time ago, but so far no classes could ever by held here. Meanwhile, the 55-year-old middle school has also not been upgraded.