THATTA, Jan 14: An abrupt release of toxic chemicals into the Kalri Baghar (KB) feeder through its link canal has resulted in mass deaths of fish and other wetland species in Thatta district, sources told Dawn here on Monday.

However, the Kotri Association of Trade and Industry denied it was releasing chemicals into the feeder.

Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum (PFF) chairman Muhammad Ali Shah talking to media men accused Kotri Industrial Zone administrations of releasing poisonous chemicals into the KB feeder which he termed a severe blow to fishermen and a potential threat to agriculture as well as the population surviving on the water source.

The KB feeder is the only direct source of water supply from the Indus streams water to the Keenjhar lake, some urban settlements of Thatta district as well as over 60,000 acres of agriculture land within its command area located in five talukas of the district, Thatto, Mirpur Sakro, Ghora Bari, Keti Bander and Kharo Chhan.

The PFF chairman said the release of toxic chemicals had changed the colour of water to light green and killed many species of fish, including Kurri, Morakhi, Rarro, Mundo, Bhuhan, Seengaro and Gundan.

When contacted by Dawn, local fishermen Habibullah Bhambhro and Pathano Mallah said the poisonous water was also streaming into the Keenjhar lake, the major source of water supply to Karachi through the Chull site of the KB feeder.

They said the foul odour of the water was so strong that one could not stay even for a moment at the supply site. They said hundreds of villages and small settlements along both banks of the KB feeder used the water for both humans and livestock, and it could spread epidemics in the area.

The PFF chairman said that none of the irrigation, fisheries, livestock as well local bodies officials had so far taken notice of the situation. He said the toxic water was a constant threat to the environment, forests, livestock, agriculture as well as humans. He said it would ruin the Keenjhar lake and deltaic life.

He demanded laboratory tests of the water and immediate stoppage of the Kotri Industrial Area poisonous waste into the KB feeder.

Kati denial

Our staff correspondent in Hyderabad adds:

A member of the executive committee of the Kotri Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), Khalil Baloch, rejected the allegation that Kotri’s industrial area was disposing of toxic chemical into the KB feeder.

Mostly spinning and flour mills are working in Kotri’s SITE area. Only three units use chemicals. One of them has its treatment plant while the other is increasing its capacity and the third one is establishing it. Out of the 60 or so mills only 24 released their wastewater into the KB feeder while others disposed it of into a village.

“Our total disposal of wastewater into the KB feeder is just three or four per cent because our effluents usually go towards the other area where villagers use it for cultivation,” he said.

“Kati got a water analysis of the KB feeder conducted before and after the release of wastewater and there was only one per cent change in its quality. It is a false claim. A

combined treatment plant to be built by the Sindh government at a cost of Rs700 million would become functional very soon. Even otherwise units in Kotri release wastewater into settlement tanks before releasing it for further disposal.”