Adviser to the Sindh chief Minister on Local Government Affairs Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday constituted a water regulatory body to regulate supply of potable drinking water to the people of Hyderabad and Dadu districts.
The body comprises of DCOs, Nazims of Dadu and Hyderabad districts, chief engineer of Kotri barrage and members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Irrigation authorities would be under obligation to consult the water regulatory body before the release of water for drinking purposes.
The provincial advisor held irrigation authorities responsible for creating health hazard by releasing poisonous water to the people of Hyderabad and suburban areas.
He said, in future, such negligence will not be tolerated and punitive action would be taken against those found responsible for such irresponsible actions.
He also agreed to a proposal tabled by Hyderabad district Nazim Makhdoom Rafikuzaman that all drainage channel of upper Sindh should be linked with the RBOD instead of Manchar Lake. A proposal would be placed before the cabinet for approval, he added.
The Hyderabad district Nazim informed the minister that since March 2004, water has not been released downstream of Kotri barrage with the result that the water has been stagnant and contaminated which is being supplied to Latifabad and Hussainabad causing enormous health problems to the people of the areas.
He demanded that the irrigation authority should immediately release fresh water so that the contaminated stagnated water could be washed out and the people of area could be supplied with potable drinking water.
Chief engineer, Kotri Barrage, Agha Ali Hassan informed that the gate of Aral Wah canal, carrying Mancher lake water were open for few hours on experimental basis and he is still of the opinion that the water quality is not that bad which has been reported in the press.
The advisor said that the industrial state would be made responsible to set up water treatment plant to avert contamination of water being supplied to Karachi.
Referring to Phuleli canal, he said once the president package with regard to drinking water and sewerage was implemented, the canals running through the city would be made free of pollution.
He asked the Wasa authority to start campaign for the recovery of Rs 340 million pending against the industrial area. Later, he visited the hospital to inquire about the health of the poisonous water victim at LMCH, Hyderabad.
He was informed that around 336 patients have been admitted in the hospital and they were provided with medical cover.
Later, talking to newsmen, he said the woman who have been reported to die of water borne disease is being examined and if it was found correct the dependants would be compensated.
Earlier, following reports that students of various schools in Hyderabad and Latifabad had fallen victims to water borne diseases and were rush to hospitals, the health department has set up emergency medical camps in all educational institutions.
Meanwhile, Provincial Health Minister Naeem Ishtiaq declared emergency in all public health institutions in Hyderabad, Dadu, Kotri and Jamshoro following the arrival of large number of patients.
The citizens of Hyderabad are organising a protest walk on Friday to express their resentment against authorities responsible for releasing the poisonous water for drinking purpose.
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