NGT pulls up Centre on spraying of pesticides on aircraft

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has pulled up the government and private airlines for not filing "satisfactory" reply on the plea of a US-based neurologist against spraying of pesticides on aircraft with passengers on board.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar granted last opportunity to the Centre and other parties concerned to file their replies in the matter.

"Despite repeated requests, none of the respondents have provided satisfactory answer to the queries raised by the applicant as well as noticed in the order of the NGT...

"If the queries raised by the Tribunal are not answered, we would be compelled to pass appropriate orders including prohibiting spray of disinfectant fumigation of any kind in the aircraft," the bench said.

The Tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Dr Jai Kumar, a neurologist and director of the Primary Stroke Centre at Baylor Hospital in Texas.

The green panel had last year issued bailable warrants against Managing Directors of GoAir and Kingfisher Airlines for their non-appearance.

It had also issued notices to the Ministries of Environment and Forests, Civil Aviation and Health and Family Welfare, besides DGCA, Airports Authority of India, Air India and all concerned airlines.

The plea had contended that as per rules, spraying of pesticides on planes with chemicals like phenothrin, an organo -phosphorus neurotoxin, was injurious to human health as its use carries risk of causing cancer and auto-immune diseases like lupus, Parkinson's disease and memory loss etc.

It further stated that 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.