DADU: The local irrigation officials and district administration of Jamshoro failed to start 42 shut down reverse osmosis plants at different places of Manchhar Lake.
Water Commission team constituted by the Supreme Court about water issues in Sindh led by chairman, Justice retired Amir Hani Muslim visited Manchhar Lake and Sehwan.
The Justice directed officials of the irrigation department, district administration Jamshoro, Pak Oasis and concerned officials to start ROs and supply clean and fresh water to fishermen.
Talking to a reporter, Imran Mallah a local fisherman complained that nine months had passed but 42 ROs were un-functioning which had caused problems for the supply of drinking water among local fishermen of Manchhar Lake. He said that fishermen were purchasing water from Bubak Town.
President of Manchhar Bachayo Ittehad, Moula Bux Mallah said that it was urgently needed to re-start the ROs plants along with Manchhar Lake to supply clean and fresh water to the fishermen.
Fazal Muhammad Jamali said that fishermen were using polluted water of Manchhar Lake which had created fatal and water borne diseases. He said that population of Manchhar Lake was affected with waterborne diseases owing to consumption of polluted water.
A visitor of Manchhar Lake, Asad Ali said that this was one the tourist place in Pakistan but it was neglected by tourism department government of Sindh and federal government. He said that efforts were not taken to develop this Lake. Manik Ali Mallah said that influential persons and feudal had distributed jurisdictions of water in Manchhar Lake and they had occupied water of Lake and they were not allowing local fishermen to hunt migratory birds and fish.
While, Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah during visits held meetings with local fishermen and assured them to supply fresh and clean water a day.
Meanwhile, residents of village Hamzoo Khan Shahani staged demonstration before Dadu Press Club to protest against feudals and a group of influential persons for occupying a piece of land of two acres of poor villagers. Mustaq Shahani, Abdul Rehman Shahani, Soomar Shahaniand others alleged Sardar Shahani, Hanif, Imtiaz , Esso, Javid and others had occupied their land. They claimed that influential persons were threatening them with dire consequences if they would complaint to anyone. They appealed to the Sindh administration for justice.
Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2018.