THATTA, May 8: A symbolic four-member people’s tribunal on Keenjhar Lake has urged the departments of fisheries, irrigation, wildlife and tourism to play their due role to protect the lake.

Led by environmentalist Samiul Zaman, the tribunal held its proceedings organised by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) at the lake on Tuesday.

Other members of the tribunal were Nuzhat Ara Alvi, a teacher in Sindh Judicial Academy, district and session judge Dr Najam Khurshid and Maryam Majeedi, a poetess. Government officials and representatives of community and civil society also attended the proceedings.

The tribunal said Keenjhar Lake was a national asset and it was the responsibility of all the stakeholders and the community to protect it.

Nuzhat Ara Alvi read out recommendations, advising fishermen to give one-month notice to the Environmental Protection Agency for taking action. In case of failure people should file a case before the Environment Tribunal for action.

The recommendations said it was responsibility of the commissioner of Hyderabad division to ensure protection to those who were struggling to protect lake and facing political pressure in their areas.

“It is a declared protected zone. Species in and around the lake, including fish, birds, turtles and otters, be protected at all costs,” the tribunal ruled.

It asked the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to pay royalty for development activities around the lake. KWSB gets 1,000 cusecs of water daily.

Sindh Wildlife Department was advised to design management plan involving all stakeholders, including community, to prevent the lake from pollution. The tourism department should take steps to promote ecotourism and improve facilities, the tribunal said.

Sami ul Zaman urged people not to be dependant on others and to protect their resources themselves. He asked people living near the lake to collect information through monitoring to see situation and inform the government departments concerned.

If the community did not trust other organisations, they themselves should bring samples to him for laboratory tests free of cost, he said adding: “We will check water quality. If you want to file case with the Environmental Tribunal, I will be happy to support you.”

He said there was a procedure for filing case with the Environment Tribunal against any industry. Before coming to the tribunal, fishermen should write a letter to the EPA, asking them to take action.

PFF chairman Mohammed Ali Shah, pleading as a community representative before the tribunal, said Nooriabad and Kotri industrial areas released waste into Keenjhar Lake through natural drains and main Kalri Baghar Feeder, posing a threat to wildlife and environment and livelihood of fishermen who already face joblessness.

He said 15 years ago there were 55 species of fish in the lake and now there were eight.

Keenjhar might lose its attraction because of looming threats of pollution like Manchhar which received poisonous water through Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain, he said.

Hundreds of fishermen had migrated from native villages around Keenjhar to other lakes for livelihood, he said.

After community assessment, it was observed that windmill operators dumped chemicals into natural waterways. When it rained, drains brought the chemicals to lake which killed fish, turtles, birds and livestock.

People from Jhampir and 12 other villages get lake water through Keenjhar. Fishermen are reluctant to use water from it.

Barrister Abdul Rehman said government departments, including KWSB, was the main stakeholder responsible to save fresh water body.

Sindh wildlife department declared lake as wildlife sanctuary in 1972 but it could not check pollution in it.