Title: Impact of RBOD
Effluent on District Thatta
(NDP Seminar-II, Faisalabad Pakistan 2001)
Thatta
District is the most southern part of Pakistan, which is already being badly
affected by the LBOD outfall component of the tidal link. Now RBOD (Right Bank
Outfall Drain) that will discharge the drainage effluent from Frontier(Northern
province), D.G Khan and other parts of Punjab, Balochistan
and the right bank command of Guddu and Sukkur Barrages to Sea via Gharo
creek near Gharo City of Thatta district. The
cumulative discharge of this drain is estimated about 7000 cusecs. Its
approximate length in Thatta is about 50 mile. The alignment of RBOD will enter
in Thatta District through Jhirk and passes along the
fresh water reservoirs of Kalri and Haleji lakes and
couple of main and branch canals of KB feeder. This whole area of Thatta is
comprises of rich flora and fauna and a sustainable environment. The Kalri and Haleji are the main source of water supply to the more than
10 million inhabitants of Karachi City, Steel Mill and other associated areas
including Thatta city. In all, about more than 15 million of population depended
on these water reservoirs.
The
purpose of this paper is to hi-light the expected environmental consequences of
RBOD effluent and propose measures to mitigate such expected consequences.
Complete paper will be provided on request