According to the new study, the menace takes alarming proportion as consignments of such unsafe vegetables are making inroads into the city market uninterrupted from adjoining areas in the absence of a system to check the edibility of such items.

As per the IIHR research conducted over a period of fours years in suburban areas of Bellandur Tank, Varthur Tank, Nagawara Tank and Byramangala Tank the vegetables irrigated with sewage water contain high levels of lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, arsenic and other  heavy metal contents.

The study further said the prolonged use of untreated sewage water for irrigation has also contaminated the soil. Rampant use of pesticides has also added to the problem.

The research stated that the toxic levels in the soil of the study areas were more than 6 mg, which is way above permissible limits.  While the study has brought to light an alarming reality, the State Horticulture Department seems to be playing down the issue.

Instead of taking some serious efforts to curb this menace, the department has taken refuge in a blame-game. "It is mainly the small-time vendors, who operate around the Bangalore Urban, sneak in toxic vegetables into the city.

Shanmukhappa Managing Director for Horticultural Producers' Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) said, They buy their stuff from farms that use untreated sewage water. And since they are very few in numbers, it's difficult to keep a watch on them,"