Title: Impact of RBOD Effluent on District Thatta

(NDP Seminar-II, Faisalabad Pakistan 2001)

Author : Habib Ursani

 

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