Sewage farming parameters perplexed, notice issued to FSSAI

During hearing at Green Tribunal on Friday central zonal bench has decided to issue notice to the Food & Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India to submit response with regards to sewage farming.

In addition, they are also directed to submit an affidavit on the points that have been mentioned regarding contaminant in vegetables”. 

The FSSAI may also submit the time frame within which they would be in a position to decide the pending issues which were mentioned in the said note with regard to the standards for heavy metal presence in various food items which are under examination. 

In this behalf National Green Tribunal would also like the FSSAI to enlighten as to whether any standards have been prescribed elsewhere internationally in this behalf if so what those standards are.

Earlier, petitioner had pointed out that the water analysis report submitted by Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board is not satisfactory. Besides, human excreta other industrial effluent, chemical effluent mixture in water is dangerous for human consumption .Accordingly the Sewage treatment plant ( STP )set up may not be sufficient and to allow sewage farming may be hazardous in such case.

Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) also needs to respond to the pending issue with regard to upgradation of STPs on account of the domestic sewage been contaminated by hazardous /chemical substances which were agreed to in the report submitted before us and it was also submitted that the matter for upgradation of such STPs (Sewage Treatment Plant) to the level of ETP or otherwise is under consideration. 

For that MoEF needs to respond as to what are the directions issued by the MoEF to the various State bodies in this behalf and whether any decision taken in this behalf or not. This needs to be expedited particularly as most of the State Municipal Authorities had been directed to install STPs or upgrade the same. Next hearing of the matter is scheduled for September 21.