Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Water contaminated with chemicals and bleaches discharged from factories is raising serious health risks for residents in parts of Jaipur, particularly in the Sanganer area.
In a stretch of over 20 kilometres from Sanganer to Chandlai, more than two dozen villages are affected by pollution caused by factories involved in dyeing, printing and bleaching of clothes. These units discharge chemical- and bleach-laden wastewater into nearby water bodies, leading to severe contamination of water used for agriculture.
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The polluted water is being used to grow vegetables and fruits, raising concerns about the health risks faced by consumers. According to information, crops produced using such contaminated water can act as a slow poison and may lead to serious ailments, including kidney failure, heart-related diseases and even cancer.
When India Today TV visited several areas in Jaipur’s Sanganer tehsil, including Shikarpura and Muhana, it found water that had turned extremely black in colour being pumped directly into agricultural fields. Crops such as cabbage, brinjal, spinach and other seasonal vegetables were growing in these fields. In several locations, the discharge of highly contaminated water had also turned the soil greyish or blackish.
Local farmers said the pollution has damaged crops and gone unchecked for years. “It causes damage to all crops that we consume. No one comes to check. No one has come so far,” Sitaram, a farmer, told India Today TV.
As per information, while some factories have installed Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) or Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), a majority continue to discharge untreated wastewater containing chemicals and dyes into nearby water bodies. This untreated discharge has led to widespread pollution of fields and crops in the area.
Residents and workers in the area told India Today TV that factories have been releasing wastewater containing harmful chemicals into agricultural fields for years. However, some factory employees claimed that treatment systems were in place. “An ETP has been installed here, and the water goes after filtering through the pipe kept on the main road over there,” Sikander, an employee at a dyeing factory, said.
The continued use of contaminated water for irrigation in Sanganer has raised serious concerns about food safety and the long-term health impact on people consuming produce grown in these polluted fields.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
