Crops and vegetables which are being cultivated by using industrial waste can cause serious health hazards for consumers, and that their long-term use could expose the people to diseases, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

Crops and vegetables which are being cultivated by using industrial waste can cause serious health hazards for consumers, and that their long-term use could expose the people to diseases, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He was talking to the delegation of 16th Senior Management, National Management College Lahore came here to discuss research studies on water and air quality. The delegation was headed by Irshad Hussain, Project Director, Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project. He was flanked by Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Deputy Secretary Hamid Nisar, Establishment Division Director Sharaf Jehan, and Ministry of Religious Affairs Director Noor Salam. Giving briefing, the Vice Chancellor said that industry effluent is playing havoc with the lives of the people because of few waste treatment mechanism. The most of the water is being utilized for the agricultural purposes. He said that industrial effluent was also contaminating the underground water. He said that 80 percent of the industrial water is going to the canals etc whereas 20 percent is becoming the part of underground water. He said Separate drinking water and household water supply lines are required across the county to ensure the availability of potable water to the people. He told the delegation that the university had conducted valuable researches hundred in numbers on the water and air pollution issues. Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad said that sewerage and industry waste water was dumped into single source that is aggravating the situation. Mixing of household drain-out water and industrial waste water is making difficult for experts to treat them and convert the toxic water into non-toxic water. He was of the view that the industrialists are reluctant to set up the waste water treatment plants at their units that is real challenge. He said that excellent law regarding the water and air pollution that must be implemented into letter and spirit. Irshad Hussain said that industrial effluent treatment was essential to provide the healthy environment to the citizen. He stressed the need to expedite the joint efforts for the cause. He said that it is the need of the hour to treat the industrial and waste water. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences Director Prof Dr Javaid Akhtar called for adopting the measures to protect the environment as per the international standards. He said that the climate changes are posing the serious threat to the people and Pakistan was its worst victim. Prof Dr Ghulam Murtaza said that effluent water must be treated at the industrial area. The effluent water at its passing track also contaminates the ground water that creates the health issue for the people. He was of the view that the proper check on the air pollution was imperative to deal with the different diseases.