Lake Manchhar: a classic example of how water projects affect sustainable livelihoods

1. Lake Manchhar: a classic example of how water projects affect sustainable livelihoods Ali Abbas Qazilbash Ali Ahmed Rind Population & Environment Communication Center, SDPI

2. Introduction Location: West of Sewhan, Dadu district, Sindh; 200 kms north of Karachi. Manchhar Lake is a vast natural depression, surrounded by hills of Khirthur mountain range to the west, Lakki hills to the South, the Indus to the East and a flood protection bund to the north east. Largest Freshwater Body in all of South Asia ranging from 60 to 200 sq.km in area depending on the seasonal variations.

3. Feeding Sources There are three main feeding sources: 1. Main Nara Valley Drain (MNVD), which later become the Right Bank Out-fall Drain (RBOD) from Hammal Lake and drainage canals from the districts north of the lake. 2. The River Indus, through 2 canals: Aral & Daniestar 3. Rain fed Hill torrents from Khirthar Hills

4. The uses of Manchhar Three main uses of this wetland: 1. Ecological haven for migratory birds 2. Source of livelihoods for: (i) Fishing communities - fisherfolk - Mohanas (ii) Non-Fishing communities - farmers; small business folk / traders

5. Environmental Degradation Our study identified two main causes of environmental degradation of the lake: 1. RBOD 2. Reckless fishing practices Mohanas were using DDT mixed in cereal grains as bait and motorized boats to cover larger areas of water.

6. MNVD/RBOD MNVD constructed y the British in 1932 to control floods of Hammal Lake and low lying areas of southern Sindh. 1982: Government of Pakistan remodeled this canal and re-named it RBOD to act as a drain to carry off the upstream agricultural runoff/effluents into the Arabian Sea. As this project did not arrive to its desired purpose, the RBOD was re-directed to Manchhar lake as a temporary end point, until the drainage project was completed.

7. Environmental Impact of MNVD/RBOD The impact of the saline/polluted effluents of the MNVD/RBOD did not appear during the initial years as the inflow of fresh water from the other sources was quite regular and uninterrupted, thereby diluting the effect of the MNVD/RBOD runoff. In the mid 90s, a year after the flood, and onwards this area experienced a prolonged drought (5-7 years), which diminished the supply of freshwater. Compounded by the upstream water projects the flow of water from the Indus was also cut off.

8. Laboratory analysis of water taken from MNVD/RBOD Temp: 25.6°C pH: 7.44 TSS: 562 mg/L TDS: 2,316 mg/L (WHO - 1000 mg/L) Cl: 988 mg/L Fl: 1.16 mg/L +ve for fecal coliforms 80 mpn/100ml, with 120x103 cfu/ml

9. Water analysis of samples taken from Manchhar Temp: 26.2°C pH: 7.24 TSS: 1564 mg/L Cl: 1,930 mg/L Fl: 1.71 mg/L +ve for fecal coliforms with 300x103 cfu/ml Other species include Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus

10. Results of water analysis conducted by University of Sindh. Year 2001 University of Sindh WHO pH 6.9-8.8 6.5-8.5 Total hardness (mg/l) 715-966 100-500 TDS (mg/l) 757-6360 1000 Salinity(mg/l) 80-5600 0.65-300 Chloride (mg/l) 320-2685 250

11. Impacts of environmental degradation Dwindling fish catch Fish catch: 1950 – 3000 tons 1994 – 300 tons 2003 – less than 100 tons The major fish harvested from these waters today is called the Dayya which is small saline tolerant fish that fetches Rs5-6/kg, but the contractor who buys these fish, dries them and sells them as poultry feed for Rs 500/40kg (~ Rs 12.5/kg). Reduced number of migratory birds Poor water quality for irrigation of farm lands

12. Impacts of environmental degradationcont’d... Increase in waterborne diseases; malnutrition and poor hygiene Increased incidence of Gastro enteritis, Tuberculosis and Scurvy (lack of vitamin C) Enhanced POVERTY Forced Migration (some 40,000 people are reported to have migrated out of the lake out of a total population of 100,000)

13. Impacts of environmental degradationcont’d... So, the diminished catch size, low cash price and loss of aquatic plant life, compounded to enhance poverty amongst the Mohanas. Adding to their misery was the lack of clean drinking water, low crop yield for the farmers of Manchhar, as they too used the lake waters for irrigation, the socio-economic situation of the people of Manchhar deteriorated. As a result, the Mohanas began to practice unsavory fishing methods, using DDT, motorized boats, dynamite and grain as bait to enhance their fish catch. Instead they further polluted the waters of Manchhar and worsened their chances of sustained livelihood.

14. Social impacts of environmental degradation With increased poverty the fishing communities in particular and non-fishing communities in general opted to migrate to other places like wetlands and urban areas to seek source of livelihood. The study revealed that majority of people left behind were forced into peddling/begging for food, while others turned to drugs to forget about their problems Those who migrated were trapped in bonded labor by the contractors / money lenders. Some of them who did return following the recent floods said that they suffered greatly after migrating from the Lake.

15. Social Impacts cont’d... Due to the persistent flow of polluted waters into Manchhar Lake, compounded by prolonged drought, improper/unsustainable fishing techniques, the fish population of the lake has slowly but surely declined to levels that could not support the livelihoods of the Mohanas – boat people of Manchhar. As a result, reportedly 40,000 people of Manchhar migrated to different areas throughout Pakistan and even abroad (Iran & Afghanistan) in search for a better life!!

16. Social Impacts cont’d... As a consequence of this the social & human impact has magnified many fold: Diminished fish catch, aquatic plant harvest, Poor / contaminated water source / quality  Ill health – particularly amongst the children & women  Poor / no health facilities to cater for the growing need for quality care and medicines  Driven the Mohanas further into poverty leading to forced migration

17. Social Impacts cont’d... Gender disparity in terms of healthcare: On average women at Manchhar work 12 –18 hours everyday Yet few/none have access to mother-child healthcare facilities – simply because none, or the one’s that exist are ill-equipped or too far away No lady doctors; No post-natal care; No LHVs/LHWs Social barriers prevent women from visiting male doctors Acute poverty has effected the nutritional status of women and children in particular – most malnourished and susceptible to preventable diseases, diarrhea, skin infection, TB, RTI, etc.

18. Social Impacts cont’d... Due to the prolonged drought over the past 6-7 years there has been a paucity of fresh water inflow to Manchhar. Arguably, the recent floods have somewhat relieved the situation in terms of water quality & levels at Manchhar, but at a human cost lives. Simultaneously, these flood waters have brought some hope to these desperate people, but are wee to rely on natural calamities to solve our ecological and socio-economic problems? The government has finally admitted that MNVD/RBOD has been dumping saline/agriculture wastewaters into Manchhar and have come up with a plan “RBOD-II” to divert the contaminated waters of the RBOD, before it reaches Manchhar and dump this water into the sea through a new drainage system.

19. RBOD - II This is a 6-year project and has latent flaws – the most glaring of which being that for a 3 km stretch the RBOD-II will share its banks with the Indus – increasing the chances of the contaminated waters to flow into the Indus. Over the next 6 years what is become of Manchhar Lake while the RBOD-II is being constructed? Polluted waters will continue to enter the lake Fish stock will not be replenished Aquatic plants will perish, except for algae,which will grow at an accelerated rate since there will be no fish to feed upon them – resulting in eutrophication – suffocating all remaining life-forms.

20. Study carried out at Manchhar Qualitative study designed, based two sets of questionnaires and interviews of selected individuals of the Manchhar, to ascertain: * If the devolution plan has had any effect in solving/ addressing the problems of community * Advocating improved management of the natural resources at grass root levels * To determine if the people can identify the source of the environmental degradation of the lake * What remedies they propose to alleviate their problems and who local representatives can do to help!?

21. Findings from interviews - majority, with the exception of RBOD officials, identified the MNVD/RBOD as the main cause of degradation of the lake. - few saw it as a natural phenomenon following the long drought - of the farmers interviews, the majority blamed the Mohanas – fisher folk and their callus of imprudent fishing methods for the environmental degradation of the lake - other proposed strict regulation of fishing practices to prevent the Mohanas from using cereal grains as bait, DDT and other toxic chemicals and motorized boats

22. Findings from interviews the Mohanas agreed that the living conditions of those who migrated from the lake worsened once they left the lake, some did return after the recent floods to tell their frightful stories. However, other who left because of defaulting on their payment to the contractors did not return fearing repercussions and further hardships. many of the fisher folk expressed their disappointment with civil society groups (NGOs/CBOs) working in the area, claiming that they have failed to provide them with help, guidance during their hour of greatest need

23. Findings from interviews few did identify one organization Basic Minimum Development Needs Program (BMDN), which through WHO funding had helped the Mohanas by introducing micro-credit schemes to assist the purchase of nets, boats etc.

24. Solutions derived from the interviews equally important for the survival of the community are schools and hospitals, which the fisherman stated they needed to combat the numerous water-borne diseases and other related ailments, and the need for the children to get quality education. The fishermen recalled that in the 70s and 80s Manchhar was littered with boat schools and boat clinics. They said that through micro-credit financing or projects driven by NGOs/CBOs working in these areas, the boat clinics and schools could be re-introduced.

25. OIL & GAS EXPLORATION AT MANCHHAR Regarding the possibility of oil and gas exploration by multinational companies, at Manchhar, a majority of those interviewed were aware of such plans. However, some, saw no harm in the exploration, or operation, within the lake as they identified this as opportunity for employment and betterment. Many did disagree with such plans and said that it would harm the water quality. Nonetheless, nearly all the people interviewed were skeptical, based on previous records, whether multinational oil and gas companies would truly help the local communities in terms of employment opportunities or financial remuneration for the use of their land/waters, citing the examples of the two big gas fields, Bhit and Badho operated by LASMO/ENI are only few kilometers away from the Lake. To a question of how they would react if the company goes ahead with its exploration and operation within the lake body, some claimed that they would protest and take up the issue at the national level, if necessary while others were uncertain about their action plan.

26. Thank-you