NGT Asks CPCB To Formulate Action Plan To Abate Harmful Impact Of Pesticides [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Central Pollution Control Board to formulate an action plan in coordination with the State PCBs/PCCs to abate harmful impact of pesticides on human health and soil.

A bench led by Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said "While certain steps are being taken to abate harmful impact of pesticides on human health and soil, monitoring needs to be enhanced by laying down a further action plan jointly by the CPCB in coordination with the State PCBs/PCCs." It added that an appropriate protocol should be evolved for the purpose and circulated it to the concerned agencies within four months.

The order came after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture and the CPCB submitted a report to the NGT on a petition filed by Shailesh Singh seeking restriction on use of chemical pesticides, affecting health of the citizens and contaminating soil.

The prayer sought by him was based on a study of the King George Medical College, Lucknow and news articles published in BBC News on 05.11.2017, the Times of India on 19.11.2017 and other similar news articles. He had stated that around seven lakh hectares of agricultural land in Aligarh division had turned into barren land, as per a press report. There was also a report that many patients were referred to its Clinical Ecotoxicology (Diagnostic and Research).

The Agriculture Ministry in its report submitted that "The insecticides or pesticides are not to be blamed alone for the soil pollution but there are many other leading causes of soil pollution too. It is 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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