THATTA, Sept 2: Keenjhar Lake, one the major sources of water supply to Karachi and Thatta district, has developed eutrophication, which occurs when lake water becomes enriched with nutrients, and causes abnormal plant growth and pollution.

This was observed by a team of the People’s Doctors Forum (PDF), led by its Sindh chief, Dr Karim Khwaja, during its study visit of the lake the other day.

Other factors which contribute to the rising pollution in the lake include discharge of industrial waste and agricultural effluent through Kalri Baghar Feeder, which fills the lake from River Indus water, and garbage thrown by the picnickers.

The PDF team observed that there were grave threats of spread of water borne diseases among the consumers of water received from the lake if adequate measures like deweeding were not immediately adopted.

The lake supplies about 900 cusecs of water to Karachi every day.

Keenjhar could become a source of revenues generation and jobs for the local people if private sector was invited to look after the lake, which attracts over 20,000 picnickers, mainly from Karachi, on every week end, the team observed.