“Laboratory tests revealed the produce of these farms such as watercress, radish, capsicum and beans was highly contaminated,” said chairman of the branch municipality Hassan Khankar.

He added the farms and their produce were destroyed in collaboration with officials of the Makkah governorate.

He added the municipality would continue inspections to discover if vegetable farms were using polluted water for irrigation.

He also urged farm owners not to let anyone commit violations on their land. The illegal farms are mostly found on both sides of the Leith Highway.

It is mostly overstayers who work in illegal farms and sell polluted vegetables in markets. They also hawk their produce in residential districts and mosques.

Illegal farmers get their land from Saudi landowners. In fact, the landowners knowingly or unknowingly become accomplices in violations of environment and farming regulations when they permit workers to irrigate farms with sewage water.

Director of Environmental Administration in the Makkah municipality Muhammad Futawi said his department noticed the violations of farmers and action has been taken.

He said officials of branch municipalities do not allow polluted vegetables to reach local markets. The vegetables are destroyed along with the farms and farm workers are arrested and sent to either the police or Passport Department for legal action.