Punjab govt uproots vegetables grown with wastewater

Farmers may only use untreated water for irrigation of non-edible crops

LAHORE: The Lahore district administration has uprooted vegetable plants from fields being irrigated with sewage in violation of agriculture laws and standards.

On directives of the provincial government, the district administration on Monday took action against vegetable cultivation with sewerage water in Hanjarwal area. District administration officials uprooted vegetable fields of cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and turnip spread over an area of 15 acres.

On a tip-off, Lahore Division Commissioner Saif Anjum, Deputy Commissioner Danish Afzal and Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Director General Irfan Nawaz Memon along with their teams conducted a raid and ordered removal of contaminated vegetables in their presence. They also lodged cases against local farmers involved in cultivation with the hazardous water.

Speaking to the media, the Lahore commissioner highlighted that sewerage water is contaminated with toxic chemicals and vegetable produce irrigated with it is unfit for human consumption.

The government has already barred cultivation with sewage by imposing Section 144 and the action against violators of the ban will continue. Farmers have to install tube-wells if they want to cultivate vegetables, otherwise the government will not allow them to grow crops, he maintained.

Deputy Commissioner Afzal said the district administration is vigilant and conducting raids on a daily basis. The assistant commissioners are inspecting vegetable fields and checking the water sources being used for irrigating crops. All assistant commissioners have clear instructions to take indiscriminate action against illegal and unethical agriculture practices, he added.

The PFA DG highlighted that the authority’s law is very clear about malpractice. PFA teams are also checking vegetable fields and taking action against any illegal activity. He highlighted that the authority has destroyed crops on hundreds of acres irrigated with sewage.

As per PFA regulations, farmers can only use untreated water for irrigation of non-edible crops like bamboos, flowers and indoor plants in areas falling in specific zones.

The authority, in collaboration with other government agencies, is taking steps to eliminate this practice from the province.

The cultivation with untreated sewage water is on the rise in Pakistan and Indian Punjab. Though vegetable trade between India and Pakistan is suspended, there are reports that the neighbouring country was exporting vegetables irrigated with sewage water to Pakistan.

Like Punjab, farmers of Sindh are also involved in the practice. Recently, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to all deputy commissioners of Karachi division and the managing director of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) on a petition pertaining to the use of sewage for growing vegetables in the metropolis.

The court sought replies from the departments concerned about action being taken in this regard. The court remarked that use of wastewater for growing vegetables is tantamount to playing with the health of the people.

The petitioner submitted that toxic water is being used for growing the vegetables in several areas of the city and citizens their consumption id affecting the health of citizens.

Medical experts say chemically treated vegetables are one of the main caused of hepatitis and other diseases.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2020.