The perennial problem: ‘Low water flows a threat to several districts’

Due to high proportion of poisonous elements in the lake, experts only allow 5 to 6 per cent of water flow in Indus.


Z Ali May 24, 2013
"The government needs to complete the RBOD project to stop the poisoning of the lake," Manchar Lake supervisor Dr Ahsan Siddiqui. PHOTO: REUTERS

HYDERABAD:


The persistent water shortage in the River Indus hasn’t just put the peasants in a quandary. The shortage could expose people in several districts of lower Sindh to various natural and health hazards.


This was stated by Dr Ahsan Siddiqui, a water expert deputed to monitor the Manchar Lake by the Sindh High Court after 60 people died in 2004 after drinking poisonous water from the lake in Dadu, Jamshoro and Hyderabad. Manchar Lake, the largest freshwater source in Pakistan and among one of the biggest in Asia, is located in Jamshoro near Sehwan. Spread over some 200 square kilometres, it is home to 15,000 to 20,000 fishermen. The lake suffers, however, from massive pollution. Of the three sources that feed the lake, the Main Nara Valley drain is the one that brings pollutants - both industrial and agricultural - from lower Punjab and upper Sindh. The lake’s other two sources are the River Indus and rainwater that flows downhill from the Kirthar mountain range.



The high pollution level of the lake together with the low flow of water in River Indus has the potential of creating trouble in the upcoming monsoon season. To prevent the lake from spilling over, water needs to be regularly discharged in the Indus. Besides, the lake’s level has to be reduced every year before the monsoon season to create room lest the lake should burst during a heavy spell.

However, due to the high proportion of poisonous elements in the lake, experts only allow five to six per cent of water flow in the Indus to be released. For instance, if the Indus is carrying 1,000 cusecs, release from Manchar has to be restricted to 50 to 60 cusecs. This low discharge creates a twin threat of water spilling over from the lake and causing floods, especially in the rainy season, besides increasing pollution levels and thus the chances of a repeat of 2004.  According to Dr Siddiqui, the water level in the lake is constantly on the rise due to the drastically low release.

“We are only releasing 65 cusecs though ideally it should be 800 cusecs during the current season,” he said, adding that they want to immediately increase the discharge to 500 cusecs. Dr Siddiqui said that water level upstream Kotri Barrage needs to be raised from 8,000 cusecs to allow them a discharge of 500 cusecs. “I appeal to the Indus River System Authority to make sure that at least 25,000 cusecs water is released downstream Sukkur Barrage.”

Dr Siddiqui urged the government to complete the Right Bank Outfall Drain project to put a stop to the poisoning.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.

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