The Plant Protection Directorate (PPD) under the Ministry of Agricultural Development, which initiated a drive against pesticide residue in the Kathmandu valley, has complained of non-cooperation from local administration.

In a report submitted to the ministry, the directorate has mentioned that local authorities failed to cooperate them despite their repeated requests to send at least four to five police personnel along with technical experts mobilised every day to collect samples of vegetables and fruits brought to the Kalimati Vegetables and Fruits Market and take action against the wrongdoers.

For more than a year now, the PPD has been carrying out inspection at Kalimati. The samples collected from the market are taken to a lab for pesticide residue analysis. “If we find traces of harmful pesticides beyond limit, we take action against those found selling such produces,” said Dilli Ram Sharma, chief at the PPD.

Sharma said when the pesticides control campaign in Kathmandu was launched in June last year, there was support from all quarters, including the local district administration.

Likewise, the government prepared a directive on pesticides control making it mandatory for police personnel to participate in daily market inspection carried out by the PPD. “However, for the past couple of months, market inspection is being carried out solely by the PPD without the presence of police. Luckily, the supply of pesticides-laced produces is not reported in the past couple of months, making it easy for the officials to perform regular monitoring,” Sharma said.

However, if there is a situation where the inspection teams find a shopkeeper selling pesticide-laced fruits and vegetables, PPD officials themselves would not be able to take action and seize as well as dump such items, he said.