Pesticide spraying on aircraft: NGT seeks Centre's response

The National Green Tribunal has sought response from the Centre on a plea of a United States- based neurologist against spraying of pesticides on aircraft while passengers are onboard.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar, issued notice on a complaint filed via e-mail by Dr Jai Kumar, a neurologist and director of the Primary Stroke Centre at Baylor Hospital in Texas, and put up the matter for further consideration on February 9, next year.
The notices were issued to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Air India, DGCA, Airports Authority of India and all airlines concerned.

The tribunal was hearing a complaint, filed via e-mail by the neurologist.
The plea contends that as per rules, spraying of pesticides on planes with chemicals like phenothrin, an organo -phosphorus neurotoxin, is injurious to human health as its use carries risk of causing cancer and autoimmune diseases like lupus, Parkinson's disease and memory loss etc.
It further states that the spraying of this pesticide is done while the passengers are on board.
According to the petitioner, while all other airlines have stopped spraying of pesticides, this practice is prevalent in all the Indian airlines operating internationally.