A big number of fishermen who had migrated to other parts of the country have started returning home, nursing hopes that receding of water to 114 RL will throw up a rich catch of fish. – File Photo

DADU: The contaminated water of Manchhar lake has turned sweet for the first time in 15 years. The lake, spreading over 270 square kilometres and straddling the talukas of Sehwan Sharif and Johi, has been getting the bounty of fresh water from Indus after the Tori dyke developed a breach on Aug 1. A big number of fishermen who had migrated to other parts of the country have started returning home, nursing hopes that receding of water to 114 RL will throw up a rich catch of fish.

But local fishermen and water experts fear that if the breaches in the embankment of Manchhar lake are not plugged, the fresh and sweet water will vanish.

Nabi Bux Mallah, a fisherman, said he had migrated to Gawadar in 1995 after water in Manchhar had become contaminated, leading to a depletion of fish stocks. He said he had now returned after hearing the good news about reappearance of fresh water.

Another fisherman, Maula Bux Mallah told Dawn that the level of flood water and the Manchhar lake was equal in the historic town of Bubak and near the Sehwan airport.

According to the vice chairman of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Ghulam Mustafa Mallah, the contaminated water had almost vanished, turning the lake full of sweet water once again.

He said that if the breaches were not plugged, fish and sweet water would flow into the Indus.