Saving Manchar Lake from pollution

In order to conserve ecology of Manchar Lake by treating hazardous effluent of Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) system, the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) plans to install five water treatment plants and it has also identified sites along RBOD for the said purpose.

WAPDA has taken this initiative to implement the findings of a study regarding treatment and re-use of saline water. This initiative is a part of the efforts to address water scarcity in the country, fulfil requirements of agricultural economy and meet the food and drinking needs of local population. The water so treated will be used to irrigate 11,000 acres of barren land. In addition, two million gallons of water will also be available per day for drinking purpose of the area.

As a first step, WAPDA is installing one treatment plant of 40 cusecs capacity as a pilot project on left side of Main Nara Valley (MNV) Drain at RD+93 in District Dadu of Sindh province at an estimated cost of Rs.3354 million.

The tendering process for installation of pilot treatment plant has already been initiated. The technical bids were opened on March 13, 2014, and are under evaluation by the project consultants. The contract for installation of the pilot treatment plant is likely to be awarded in May-June 2014.

It is pertinent to mention that on the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court, WAPDA and the government of Sindh had jointly installed 12 desalination plants for drinking water in periphery of Manchar Lake. Six of the plants were funded by WAPDA while the Government of Sindh financed the installation of remaining six desalination plants. These treatment plants have cumulative design capacity of 15000 liters per hour. About 25000 fishermen residing in the periphery of Manchar Lake are being facilitated with high quality potable water (total dissolved solids 200 – 300 particles per million) by treating high saline effluent of Manchar Lake (total dissolved solids 5000 – 10000 particles per million).

In addition to the 12 water treatment plants, the Irrigation Department of Sindh has initiated steps for installation of six more desalination plants for the purpose of making clean drinking water available along Manchar Lake area.