HYDERABAD, July 11: Leader of People’s Party Parliamentarians, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, on Wednesday warned that the water in Manchhar Lake had reached dangerous levels and would lead to inundation of a major part of Sehwan taluka if immediate preventive measures were not taken.

In a statement faxed to Dawn, Mr Talpur, who is also a member of National Assembly, said that Thehari, Hajian Jo Goth, Shaikh Daman, Barocha and their adjoining areas were already submerged, hundreds of families were marooned and many others left their areas in the wake of heavy rains and some overflow from the lake.

The marooned people were using boats carry on life in the submerged villages in the absence any government-led rescue and relief operation in the area, he said.

Mr Talpur said that water from Nai Gaj, mountains, Naing Sharif and floodwater continued to flow into the lake increasing pressure on its embankments. In case of any breach in the lake, the entire area from Bubak to Bhan Saeedabad would be flooded, he feared.

He said that after Scarp people opened the RBOD gate at Chandar Wah in Johi five union councils of Sehwan taluka namely Bubak, Bhan Saeedabad, Talti, Dal and Channa came under imminent threat.

The situation had been brought under control at least for the time being due to efforts by the Jamshoro nazim, he said and demanded stern action against the people who had opened the gate without issuing any warning.

He demanded that the failed project of RBOD should be shelved as it had submerged more than 25 villages of Manjhand taluka and claimed that the PPP government had undertaken the project at a cost of Rs28 billion but the successive governments changed its design.

NETWORK: The representatives of different NGOs on Wednesday established an NGOs’ network to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in Tando Muhammad Khan.

District Coordinator Mohammad Hassan Mashori said while presiding over a meeting that the network had been named as Pakistan Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, which would monitor the next general elections.

Faiz Solangi, Shabana Baloch, Ghazala Bhatti and Ali Nawaz Lund from South Asia Partnership, Aurat Foundation, PILER, SPO, HRCP and other NGOs attended the meeting.

CONVOCATION: The 5th academic convocation of the Sindh Agriculture University of Tandojam is being held at Tandojam on Thursday at 9.30am.