New Delhi, Jun 26 (IANS): The National Green Tribunal on Friday directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to devise an action plan to minimise harmful effects of pesticides on human health and soil.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said: "While certain steps are being taken to abate harmful impact of pesticides on human health and soil, monitoring needs to be enhanced by laying down a further action plan jointly by the CPCB in coordination with the State PCBs."

The tribunal said that an appropriate protocol should be evolved for the purpose and circulated it to the concerned agencies within four months.

The order came after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture and the CPCB submitted a report to the NGT on the petition filed seeking restriction on use of chemical pesticides, affecting health of the citizens and contaminating soil.

The Agriculture Ministry submitted: "The insecticides or pesticides are not to be blamed alone for the soil pollution but there are many other leading causes of soil pollution too. It is further apprised that if the pesticides are used judiciously as per the label claims as approved by the Registration Committee, they do not pose any risk."