LAHORE: Standing crops of peas and berseem sown on more than 150 acres in the suburbs of Hudiara drain are getting damaged by fumes from different types of factories (including chemical factories), Pakistan Today has learnt.
An agriculture expert of the area, on the condition of anonymity, told this scribe that the emission of poisonous fumes from the adjacent factories along both sides of Hudiara drain are badly affecting the vegetative growth of field crops, especially peas and berseem fodder.
He said that this phenomenon, for the last two years, has been occurring in the winter season, thus encouraging the farmers to shift from vegetable to other crops.
The expert claimed that the factories in the area are producing certain pesticides that are used to kill sugarcane weeds; they release fumes that cause damage not only to crops but also to the health of people living in the area.
Talking to this scribe, Zafar Iqbal, a farmer from Kachha village, said, “I have sown peas on 30 acres and berseem on 10 acres and my crops have been adversely affected by factory fumes.”
Iqbal said that his crops had turned white due to the chemical reaction that took place after the fumes released from factories. “This crop was our only source of income.”
Sharafat Ali, another farmer from Tibba village, said apart from his crops, factory fumes are also causing a grave damage to the health of his children and animals.
“These fumes have polluted the air in our village which has led to asthma and respiratory infections among the villagers,” said Bhola Gujjar, a farmer from Kachha village.
He said that they also wrote a letter to the agriculture department, asking it to look into this matter and take action against those factories whose fumes are adversely affecting the earnings and health of people.
Talking to this scribe, Dr Sehar Raza from Ganga Ram Hospital said that long exposure to air pollution can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), which can result in breathing-related difficulties, including chronic bronchitis that makes it difficult for the patient to breathe.
“As polluted air can also cause lung cancer or cardiovascular disease, I request the Environment Protection Department (EPD) and agriculture department to deal with this issue on a priority basis,” she said.
An agriculture expert, who did not wish to be named, said even if these crops were saved [from fumes] to some extent, they would still be very dangerous for human consumption.
