Once considered Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Manchhar Lake has now become a lake of saline and toxic water
- Ever since Manchhar Lake was turned into a reservoir for the poisonous saline water of the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD), it has been suffering from the curse of toxic water
By Aziz Kingrani
Once considered Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Manchhar Lake has now become a lake of saline and toxic water. In the past, Manchhar Lake received freshwater from three main sources. The biggest source was the seasonal rain-fed streams, the most important of which was the Gaj River. In addition, there were Sole, Taki, Sori, Nali, Kukarani, Haleli, Khandhani, Angai, and Naig, whose waters flowed into Manchhar Lake during the rainy season.
The second source was the Main Nara Valley Drain (MNV Drain), built during the British era, which brought water from Hamal Lake as well as from the Western Nara Canal into Manchhar Lake. The third source was the Aral Canal near Sehwan, which brought Indus River water into the lake during the monsoon rains and the floods.
When Manchhar had freshwater, it was not only a source of prosperity for the local fishermen but also the backbone of the economy of Sindh and Pakistan as a whole. Various species of fish and birds thrived there. Unique vegetables grew, known in Sindhi as beh, kum, and lorh. A special type of grass grew there whose leaves were used to make mats called tonri in Sindhi, which, when placed on cots in summer, reduced heat. These vegetables and mats were traded on a large scale. Moreover, when water levels receded, thousands of acres of fertile land along the lake’s banks were cultivated with wheat and mustard.
But ever since Manchhar Lake was turned into a reservoir for the poisonous saline water of the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD), it has been suffering from the curse of toxic water. The entire economy of Manchhar Lake has been destroyed. Fishermen are facing starvation. The lake has become desolate and is now forced to beg for freshwater, but there is no one to hear its cry.
Manchhar Lake is also the name of a civilization. Along its banks lie not only archaeological remains from pre-Christian times but also sites from the Indus Valley Civilization that are now disappearing. Important among these are Lahri, Pir Mashakh, Tehni, and Pir Lakhio. Regarding the historical site of Pir Lakhio, archaeologist N.G. Majumdar opined that it was the second center of the Mohenjo-daro civilization, as more remains were found there than at Mohenjo-daro itself.
Undoubtedly, Manchhar Lake is dying. It can be saved by supplying it with freshwater through three means: first, by strengthening and reinforcing the flow of the Gaj River—which often causes flooding in the region—so that its waters can reach Manchhar; second, by providing freshwater via the Johi Barrage; and third, by diverting RBOD’s toxic water to the sea instead of into Manchhar, or by intercepting and disposing of the toxic inflow upstream through some strategic method. In this way, Manchhar Lake can be saved from dying.
Read: Manchhar Lake – From Majesty to Misery
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