DADU, Aug 28: A special committee, constituted by the Sindh government, on Saturday took samples of water from different parts of the Manchhar Lake for laboratory tests to decide about release of lake water into the River Indus.

Committee head DCO Allamuddin Bullo, while briefing journalists at the lake dyke near the Bubak village, said after visiting different parts of Manchhar, it had been decided not to release its water into the Indus in the interest of people of Dadu, Hyderabad and local fishermen.

The committee, having the EDO, works and services, Mohammad Ali Memon, and the executive engineer, southern irrigation division, Habibullah Kabooro, as members, took samples from zero point of the Main Nara Valley Drain, Girkan village, Manchhar regulator, Aral head and RD-62 of the lake.

The team members also met local fishermen and farmers and heard their complaints.

The DCO said he would send a report regarding visit of the team to the lake, along with samples and facts collected from different spots.

He said he would recommend to the Sindh government not to release Manchhar water into the Indus river.

However, he said water of the MNV Drain would continue to be released into the Manchhar Lake as its water was sweet in this season.

He said schemes to supply sweet drinking water to fishermen and local people would be commissioned at the Manchhar Lake dyke.

Mr Bullo announced that fishermen could continue fishing for one year without paying any tax.

He said he would also recommend to the government that agricultural loans should not be recovered from fishermen and farmers for two years in Manchhar area.

Committee member Kabooro said water level in the lake was below the dangerous point. He said the level in the lake was 108 feet while up to 112 feet, water would not cause damage to dykes of the lake.

On this occasion, Manchhar Welfare Organization president Ghulam Mustafa Mirani said water of Manchhar had turned saltish and it was not fit for human consumption. However, he regretted, areapeople were forced to use the contaminated water due to non- availability of sweet water. He said this had spread diseases in the area but patients were without medicines as no official had visited affected villages.

Fisherman Khan Mohammad Mallah said officials were trying to dry up the lake, which was the only source of their livelihood.

He said release of contaminated lake water into the Indus would affect fish species.

Tribal chief Chakar Khan Shahani said saltish water of Manchhar had inundated hundreds of acres of agricultural land but the government had not provided compensation to farmers.

BOYCOTT: On the call of the District Primary Teachers' Association, teachers of primary schools boycotted their classes in the district's seven talukas on Saturday to protest against the district president of the All Pakistan Clerks Association.

The teachers also took out a procession from the EDO, education, office to the local press club where they staged a demonstration for two hours.