Pesticide, heavy metals in food: Gauhati HC takes it seriously

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues under the ICAR has detected pesticide residues and heavy metals in food commodities, including vegetables, soil and water in Assam. This detection has led the Gauhati High Court to ask the State Health Department to constitute an expert committee to ascertain how these residues may harm human health.

Advocate Seema Bhuya filed a PIL (18/2018) in the Gauhati High Court stating that food products like vegetables and crops in Assam have excessive contamination of pesticides and heavy metals that are injuries to human health. The petitioner sought the High Court to take necessary action.

The High Court asked the All India Network Project on Pesticide Residue (AINPPR) under the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) to ascertain the presence of pesticides and heavy metals in food products, including crops and vegetables, in Assam.

The AINPPR collected samples of paddy, black tea, green tea, vegetables, water, soil etc., from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Darrang, Sonitpur and Cachar districts. After conducting the necessary laboratory tests, the AINPPR submitted a 1,200-page report to the High Court.

According to the report, some of the 53 vegetable samples have cadmium and lead contamination. A few paddy samples also have chlorpyrifos in them. Many of the 43 water samples tested in laboratories have heavy metal contamination. Some tea samples contained pesticide residues above the FSSAI's (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) MRL (Maximum Residue Limit).

The common practice among a section of vegetable growers in Assam is using chemicals for fast growth and excessive pesticides. However, neither the Agriculture nor the Health Department takes concrete measures to prevent this practice that has much to do with human health. The use of artificial milk by traders to produce sweets is also prevalent in the state to cut costs.

The raid against fruit sellers who use carbide for the artificial ripening of fruits like bananas, mangoes etc., is also not frequent in the state.

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