The High Court sought answers on cultivation of vegetables using sewage water in Jabalpur. The matter was taken up suo motu as a public interest litigation (PIL) and notices were issued to the Collector and others. A bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf criticized the practice of growing vegetables using sewage water in Jabalpur.

 

The court, taking cognizance of the news, initiated the hearing of the matter as a PIL and issued notices to the Collector and others, seeking their responses. Senior advocate Rameshwar Singh Thakur has been appointed as amicus curiae in this case. He argued that the water contaminated with sewage contains the most detergent. Experts have consistently warned that sewage water is extremely dangerous.

 

Therefore, growing vegetables using such water is a blatant threat to public health. In Jabalpur, vegetables are grown using the sewage water from the Omti drain in areas ranging from Kachpura and Vijay Nagar to Kachnari and surrounding areas. Similarly, contaminated water from the Moti Drain is being used for vegetable cultivation in villages from Gohalpur to Baghaura in Belkhadu and surrounding areas. Toxic elements dissolved in the sewage water are endangering people’s health.

 

Demands to curb this type of cultivation have been raised for a long time, but the officials responsible for taking action are avoiding action. All departments are blaming each other. The High Court was informed that the Omti Drain, originating near the Kanchghar Hills, was once known as the Omvati River. Over time, population on both sides of drain increased, and it came to rest in the heart of the city. Now, only septic tank and bathroom wastewater flows through it.

 

The same situation is with the Moti Drain, which passes through the Gohalpur area. Experts believe that the water from these drains can be extremely dangerous and toxic. It was argued that the drains contain detergent, along with sewage. Sodium carbonate is also found in detergents, which can cause diseases like hypertension, potassium deficiency, gas and bloating, headaches and allergies.

 

Sodium laureth sulfate is used to create foam in detergents, which can cause skin irritation, acne, mouth ulcers and even cancer. Alkyl benzene sulfonate is widely used in detergents to remove stains. It removes stains from clothes, it is itself a disgrace to nature, causing immense harm to the environment. It is not biodegradable and always remains on the ground, causing harm to water and soil. Water quality deteriorates and soil loses its fertility.