HC questions lack of govt report on pesticides in food

The Delhi High Court today questioned why the Centre did not file any report regarding the extent of pesticides in fruits and vegetables if it was regularly monitoring the issue.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also queried whether there is any law in place which mandates farmers how and in what quantity pesticides need to be used.
"Awareness will be there if there is something prescribed. Is there any penalty imposed on farmers for using pesticides more than prescribed quantity or for using banned pesticides," the court also queried and said that checking for presence of such chemicals should be done at source and not at the 'mandis' (wholesale markets).

The court directed the Ministry of Agriculture to file a short affidavit regarding the steps taken by it to regulate use of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.
During the proceedings, advocate Meera Bhatia, appearing for the ministry, submitted a short affidavit on a awareness building campaign launched by it.
Under the campaign, hoardings have been put up at prominent places, such as bus stands, vegetable markets and panchayat ghars in villages and towns on the judicious use of pesticides.

"Further, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation directed all 31 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres to arrange two days training programme for the pesticide dealers located in their states on safe and judicious use of pesticides. The training programmes have been conducted," the affidavit has said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government also submitted a affidavit on steps taken by it to prevent artificial colouring of fruits and vegetables, which is also an issue that has been raised before the court.
In its affidavit, the city government's Department of Food Safety has said that "inspections are being regularly done in the fruit and vegetables markets and samples are taken to detect presence of colour and pesticide residue in them".