On Friday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to monitor & lay down action plan to minimise the harmful impact of pesticides on human health and soil.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson, Justice AK Goel asked CPCB to lay down an action plan on abating harmful impact of pesticides on human health and soil in coordination with the State PCBs.
The NGT said that an appropriate protocol may be evolved for the purpose & circulated to the concerned agencies within four months.
The Tribunal direction came after observing report of Ministry of Agriculture.
Ministry told the tribunal that the insecticides & pesticides are not to be blamed alone for the soil pollution but there are many other leading causes of soil pollution too. It further apprised that if the pesticides are used judiciously as per the label claims as approved by the Registration Committee they do not pose any risk.
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Ministry of Agriculture told the court that the use of pesticides is of paramount importance for food security of our growing population & combating the vector-borne diseases prevalent in the country.
However, Govt of India is aware & concerned that chemical pesticides are inherently toxic in nature & hence for their safe use needed to be regulated, hence, enacted the Insecticides Act 1968 & Rules were framed in l97l.
The Govt came up with a Central Sector Scheme known as Integrated Pest
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Management during the 1990s through which it holds Farmer Field Schools (FFSs), short-duration training programmes & season-long training programmes, where the farmers are taught & trained in identification of pests & their natural enemies, & to use various cultural, mechanical & biological control methods to manage these pests below the threshold levels. They are taught to use chemical pesticides judiciously & as a last resort.
The Central & State Govts organize training to farmers on safe & judicious use of pesticides including disposal of pesticides & used containers etc.
The information on harmful effects of pesticides & observance of safety in their use is also provided to the farmers during ‘Krishi Melas’ & other interactive meetings with farmers including the training organized by the 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers across the country & also 645 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agriculture Universities & State Govt wherein specialized scientists impart training to the farmers.
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The bench was hearing Shailesh Singh plea seeking directions to restrict the use of chemical pesticides.
The applicant had referred to a study of the King George Medical College, Lucknow & news articles published in newspapers to support his contention. Singh told the bench that around seven lakh hectares of agricultural land in Aligarh division had turned into barren land citing a press report.
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