Favouring intensified monitoring of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables sold in Delhi, an expert committee set up by the High Court today suggested that the city government establish a special cell to handle issues related to it.
Filing its suggestions before the bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Jayant Nath, the committee comprising experts and government officials said the pesticide residue testing infrastructure with the city government is also required to be strengthened.
"The monitoring of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables sold in Delhi should be intensified in the public interest. The Delhi government may consider establishing a Pesticide Residue Management Cell (PRMC) under the control of Food Commissioner of the state," the panel, set up to to look into the issue pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables sold in Delhi, recommended.
It said the Cell shall co-ordinate with other authorities including APMC and be responsible for handling all issues related to pesticide residues on food articles.
It also opined that government's existing testing infrastructure should be strengthened saying "additional working space, skilled and trained manpower, sophisticated equipment etc for smooth and efficient functioning of laboratory. The laboratory capacity is presently under utilised...."
In addition, the experts suggested that a technical work programme should be developed by the city government so that number of samples of particular fruits and vegetables would be identified and also no consignment should be allowed to enter the country without pre-dispatch pesticide testing report by the exporter.
"....Samples of imported fruits and vegetables should be drawn by Plant Quarantine Stations at international arrival point and monitored for the presence of pesticide residues...," as per the committee.
