Manchhar Lake, MNV drain situation under control: Shoro

HYDERABAD: After a week of rains on the Kirthar mountain range, new mountain water is flowing downstream to the MNV drain and the Manchhar Lake.

Due to this, on the one hand the land connections in the hilly areas of the Dadu, Qambar Shahdadkot and Jamshoro districts have been cut off, while on the other, the increase in the water level of the Manchhar Lake and the MNV drain has created panic among the residents.

On the special instructions of the Sindh chief minister, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro visited the Manchhar Lake and the MNV drain to review the dams and the water situation.

Shoro arrived at the Udal Wah head and tail without any schedule. Irrigation Secretary Zarif Iqbal Khero and other officers accompanied the minister on the occasion.

Shoro reviewed the water situation at the LS protection embankments and in the Indus River. He directed the officers concerned to expedite the work of strengthening the weak side of the MNV drain’s embankment.

He said that the water level in the Manchhar Lake is 116.4 RL, so the situation is under control, adding that the embankments of the Manchhar Lake are safe, so there is no situation of flooding.

He also said that the water capacity of the Manchhar Lake is 130 RL. Over the next few days the water level of the Indus River will decrease, following which the water of the Manchhar Lake will be released into the Indus River, he added. The minister said the dams of the MNV drain are weak, but the water level is low, so the situation is under control, and there is no risk of flooding in the area. He said people should not pay attention to rumours because there is no risk of flooding from the MNV drain.

He pointed out that despite the federal government being responsible for the MNV drain, the provincial government is working there so that its embankments can be strengthened and the locals can be saved from floods.

In 2022, when the water level of the Manchhar Lake had reached 123.5 RL, it had been cut, due to which some union councils of the Sehwan Tehsil in District Jamshoro and the Khairpur Nathan Shah Tehsil in District Dadu had been submerged, and millions of residents had to be shifted to relief camps.