Vegetable CULTIVATION USING SEWAGE WATER BANNED

Kudos to Home Times as our expose,’ Green Leafy Vegetables in Mulund – Nutritive or Hazardous? has yielded results!!

The Bombay High Court (HC) had directed the Railways to stop cultivating vegetables on the vacant land along the railway tracks and, instead, ordered to grow flowers. It may be noted, in its last week’s issue, Home Times had raised questions on the nutritional content of green leafy vegetables available in Mulund, because most of these vegetables are sourced from the railway land that uses sewage water for cultivation and cleaning.  However, now Mumbaikars and Mulundkars can eat nutritious green vegetables as the Bombay High Court has banned the growth of vegetables on railway land and has even cancelled the licences of such growers!

It may be noted that since decades in Mulund and other parts of Mumbai, the green leafy vegetables has been grown along the railway tracks. Unaware of the conditions of growth of these vegetables, Mulundkars have been innocently eating this contaminated green vegetables, thus ruining their health. However, after a PIL the Bombay HC has ordered a complete ban on the growth of such vegetables on railway tracks and also put a brake on the sale of these green vegetables in the market! It has thus brought relief to the health conscious Mumbaikars.

Soon after the Bombay High Court order, both the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) have stopped issuing licences to its staff members to cultivate on farms along railway tracks in the city. In fact, railways have even served notices to its employees to vacate the railway land. On the vacant land, Bombay HC has suggested to grow colourful flowers which will enhance the beauty and scenery of the railway tracks. The railway officers are pondering over the Bombay HC suggestion.

It may be noted, in 1975, a bid to stop the encroachment of railway land along the Mumbai suburban network, the Railways had leased the land at economical rates to grow vegetables under its scheme titled, ‘Grow More Food”. The land was given only to those Railway officials who worked in lower ranks of C and D grade. The land was given for the exclusive use of cultivation of crops as an additional source of income. In addition, this cultivation prevented encroachment by slums mafia.

Important Tips to Use Green Vegetables
Readers must note that it is not possible to trace the source of the cultivation of green vegetables in Mumbai. Hence, doctors advise that before cooking green leafy vegetables care must be taken to wash them thoroughly so that all the micro-organisms are destroyed. In addition, to magnify the hygienic potential of the green vegetables it is wise to sterilize them by boiling for some time. This would guarantee hundred percent hygiene and benefit our health.

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