Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Jun 20: State energy minister, Shobha Karandlaje, accused the central government of turning a blind eye to the tribulations of the people reeling under the ill-affects of the insecticide, endosulfan, because of pressure being exerted on it by forces which want to continue to peddle endosulfan in the country. “In spite of repeated appeals, the central government has not taken steps to ban this harmful insecticide because of this reason,” she alleged.
She was speaking after inaugurating a day care centre set up by Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat at Suvarna Soudha Kokkada near Nelyady in association with Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, to look after people suffering from physical disabilities inflicted by endosulfan use, on Sunday June 19. The centre proposes to bring affected people from villages in two buses, provide them food and medical care besides skill training till evening, before dropping them off in the evening.
She pointed out that the use of endosulfan has been banned in 90 countries across the globe. Pointing out that endosulfan ban has also been in force in Kerala, she said that the state government had enforced temporary ban on the insecticide twice, and recommendations made to the centre after the approval of the state assembly to ban the use of endosulfan in Karnataka has not got any response so far. “We had even met union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar. At that time, he had agreed that there is a need to ban this chemical. However, he now says that there is demand for this product from the farmers. The central government is shirking from its responsibilities, under pressure from pro-endosulfan lobby,” she said.
She also unveiled plans to build a permanent rehabilitation centre for the endosulfan-affected people at a cost of about Rs 70 lac by releasing grant this year itself, so that it can accommodate all the endosulfan-affected people of the district here, and serve them round the clock.
Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, J Krishna Palemar, presided over the meeting. He also handed over various equipments to the day care centre. Zilla panchayat president, K T Shylaja Bhat, vice-president, Dhanalakshmi Janardan, Beltangady taluk panchayat president, Mamata M Shetty, various officials and dignitaries were present.