PFA uproots crops irrigated with wastewater

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Sunday uprooted thousands of kilograms of vegetable crops cultivated on 60 kanal land with sewerage and untreated wastewater during a crackdown held in the provincial metropolis.

The crackdown was held on the special directions of PFA Director General Captain (r) Muhammad Usman. The purpose of this campaign is to ensure the supply of healthy and toxic free vegetables in the market from farms, he said.

The PFA discarded different crops including radish, carrot, spinach, bitter melon, beet and coriander during the crackdown.

PFA DG Usman rushed on the spot after receiving information about facing resistance to enforcement team from farmers. After this incident, he led the whole operation and directed further instructions. The operation was conducted in Shahdara Town.

He said that operation would be continued throughout Punjab against the vegetables which are being irrigated with untreated wastewater. He said that chemically treated vegetables are a source of hepatitis and other diseases for consumers. While most of the farmers are being cultivated crops through tub well water as compared to last year, he added.

He further said that we are doing a work on a joint action policy in collaboration with other departments for the elimination of this wicked practice from Punjab.

He said that WASA gave assurance of its full cooperation in this matter while WASA’s inspectors will monitor the use of sewerage water in fields. He said that farmers can cultivate only alternative/non-edible crops in the red zone areas like bamboos, flowers, and indoor plants and used sewerage water for irrigating purpose. He told that teams had discarded thousands of kilograms vegetable crops by ploughing on 1,300 kanal land due to irrigated with untreated wastewater of sewerage and industry in September.