A CALL has gone out for a national task force to inspect locally grown produce.
This follows allegations that contaminated agricultural water was being used to grow local vegetables, causing alarm among Al Jasra residents.
The violation was revealed during a field visit to a farm in a residential area yesterday.
Samples were collected to check for possible contamination.
The field visit was organised by the Northern Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry’s Agriculture Directorate, Health Ministry, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the Northern Municipality and the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE).
“Expatriate workers who have rented the residential property have illegally placed a generator to pump water through make-shift pipes and this water is used to grow local vegetables,” said area councillor Mohammed Al Dossari.
“We don’t know the source of the water and what contaminants, if any, it contains but it appears to be stagnant.
“The workers seem to be aware of the illegality of their actions as the make-shift pipes are hidden underground.”
Mr Al Dossari said that the SCE should take samples from the canal to check for pollutants.
A SCE representative affirmed that samples will be taken and analysed against standards implemented on drainage water that is deposited into the sea.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Directorate’s Nurseries and Agricultural Expansion Department head Jassim Abdulkareem told the GDN that there was no law prohibiting people from pumping water from the agricultural drainage canals.
“When we received the invitation to this field visit we were under the impression that this was sewage water that was used for irrigating plants,” he stated.
“However, this is agricultural drainage water that is channelled into the sea eventually.
“There is no law prohibiting people from using this water for agricultural purposes; however, there is a law preventing people from dumping water into the channel – which isn’t the case here.”
Mr Abdulkareem said that three sources of water were permitted for agricultural purposes: Artisan water, treated water from the Tubli Plant and water provided by the Electricity and Water Authority.
He stressed the importance of setting up a joint task force to inspect locally grown produce – similar to checks carried out on imported fresh produce.
“We have seen that there are water bottles and other items in the channel which may have blocked the smooth flow of the water,” added Mr Abdulkareem.
“Regular maintenance and cleaning of the channel will ensure smooth flow and movement.
“Using residential land for agricultural purposes isn’t illegal, however using agricultural land as a residence is illegal, so we need to make that distinction.”
Meanwhile, LMRA representatives urged councillors to write to the Northern Municipality director general’s office urging it to take action against the land owner as their duties were limited to illegal workers and not private property.
Officials confirmed that although the water flow appeared stagnant, the canal would be cleaned and maintained to ensure smooth flow as intended into the sea.
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