Vegetables' cultivation through sewage: SHC issues notices to DCs, KWSB chief

Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notices to deputy commissioners of all districts of Karachi Division and Managing Director (MD) Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KW&SB) in a petition pertaining to use of sewer water for growing the vegetables in metropolis.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar sought the replies from the concerned departments about the action being taken against use of sewer water for growing the vegetables.

The court warned to summon the officials concerned if steps were not taken to check the practice and remarked that use of waste water for growing the vegetables is tantamount to playing with the health of the people.

The court also questioned the functions of Sindh Food Authority (SFA) and inquired why it is not taking the action against those, involved in use of sewer water for growing the vegetables.

"If Sindh Government had established SFA for public welfare, then why it has not been working for the welfare of citizens," the court stated.

The SFA official told the court that authority raided various places where vegetable were being grown by using sewer water,

however the growers managed to flee.

The court ordered the SFA to submit the report in the court about the action against the elements involved in this practice with the help of Mukhtarkar.

The petitioner submitted in the court that toxic water is being used for growing the vegetables in Malir, Landhi, Surjani and other areas of the city and stated that citizens are getting sick by using the vegetables grown by using the waste water.

The petitioner alleged that authorities concerned have turned a blind eye towards this practice and requested the court to issue orders for stopping the production of vegetables by using the toxic water.