July 9, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 27,1423

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PESHAWAR, July 8: The storage of about 2,000 tons of expired pesticides all over the country need a proper and early disposal of this toxic substance posing a great threat to the people living in the vicinity of the pesticides stores in all districts.

A senior official of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NWFP, said: “The acute toxicity is the main problem because active ingredients of the pesticides have been classified as extremely hazardous by the World Health Organisation”.

The ministry of food, agriculture and livestock imported these pesticides during the so-called Green Revolution for the aerial spray, which is dumped in various stores, owned by the department of Agriculture and Plant Protection.

The Organophosphorous, Organochlorine and Dithiocarbamate insecticides are included in the stock available at government godowns. The EPA official, quoting the report of the Royal Dutch Embassy, said that about 2,000 tons of pesticides had been stored in 288 stores throughout the country. The break-up is 400 tons (Sindh), 1200 tons (Punjab), 60 tons (Balochistan) and 185 tons in NWFP.

People living in the surrounding of the pesticides stores have constantly been complaining about the stinking smell coming from the stores, but the authorities are not paying heed to their complains.

The EPA officials said that the expired pesticides needed proper disposal, which require its burning at a temperature of 1,200 to 1,500 degree centigrade, under the special safety measures.