The HIL manufacturing capacity is 10,000 tonnes. When the issue of banning the DDT came up, our govt decided that it will be" in the restricted use category" so as not to close down HIL. Import of the DDT was not allowed, however under the WTO diktats, there cannot be ban on import of DDT as it is made in India. President Bush has allowed manufacture of DDT in the US for export. His contention was that poor countries suffered from malaria and the DDT is needed for vector control. Use of pesticides has brought about mutations in the mosquito and the new varieties are highly dangerous.

Our two Central Ministries- of Health and Agriculture- decide whether to ban, allow restricted use or unrestricted use for all pesticides. These two Ministries never jointly formulate policy So when one bans, the other allows restricted or unrestricted use. The DDT is in restricted use category of the Health Ministry. The Health officers find that DDT is the cheapest pesticide so should not be banned. Why and How? It is longest lasting so one spray remains potent for a longer period and the second is not required immediately. Effect is longer lasting so cheap.

For the health of living beings it is this long lasting impact, which is most dangerous. So living beings remain exposed for a longer period of time. It is the second, third and fourth generation pesticides that disintegrate faster. That is why, probably, pesticide spray on fruits is allowed theoretically before 14 days of the fruit brought to market. Nobody follows even this rule. Even Ziziphus (Hindi: ber) used to be infected in the ripening stage. Now producers spray heavy dose just before the fruit is sent to market. So the fruit does not rot even when it is overripe and has shrivelled.

There is absolutely no control or monitoring on switch over from the health to agriculture. We have observed DDT and BHC packets in shops marketing pesticides to farmers. There is no restriction. The Agriculture Ministry says that the Dirty Dozen are banned. We tried our level best to convince the Ministry to inform farmers through field officers and offices, placing big posters but no action. We doubt if the officers can give out the names of banned pesticides. It is not only the traces found in bodies but the impact on living organisms. The DDT has been banned in the USA in 1972. A study carried out in 1989 showed that 99 per cent of US residents had traces of DDT.

One highly objectionable practice of Mumbai Municipality is to spray pesticide in the overhead water tanks in private properties for malaria control. We have objected for over 15 years, in vain. Officers in this department will lose their job so continue the practice. You may like to check in Delhi. Best wishes.