Quetta DC lodges FIR against vegetable cultivators

Vegetables grown in filthy water cause spread of typhoid

QUETTA: Quetta Deputy Commissioner Major (retd) Aurangzeb Badeni registered First Information Report (FIR) against vegetable cultivators growing vegetables in filthy water causing spread of typhoid and seasonal diseases. He also issued orders for their arrest.

The district administration had destroyed such crops multiple times before. However, every next season the growers again cultivated vegetables following similar process, causing spread of diseases including typhoid.

During the extreme cold weather, number of patients has increased leaving people perturbed. Taking notice of the situation bringing loss to the poor, the DC directed that cases be registered against the errant growers.

Earlier, doctors cited usage of filthy water to grow vegetables and wash meat and other edibles as the factors behind widespread typhoid in Quetta. A doctor said that cleanliness of water is not ensured in water tankers supplying water to a vast majority of households in Quetta.

The fraternity also accused Balochistan Food Authority of not ensuring cleanliness and quality of food items in the province. Briefing large number of patients visiting hospitals for typhoid, the doctor said, people are equally responsible for spreading typhoid and other seasonal diseases — cough, fever and flu — as they are reckless in the use of utensils.

The doctor suggested that people use boiled water for drinking, consider cleanliness before using water tanker and avoid consuming vegetables grown in filthy water. Along with that, he urged them to wash utensils with clean and hot water.

People had also complained of inactive role of Balochistan Food Authority. According to them it monitored food outlets for six months after its coming into being.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2020.