Bangalore: No ban on arecanut, growers' interests will be protected: J P Hegde
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Dec 15: Allaying the fears of the arecanut growers in coastal Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts as well as in the malnad districts of Chikmagalur and Shimoga regarding the Centre’s reported decision to ban arecanut, Congress MP Jayaprakash Hegde on Sunday clarified that Centre has not banned arecanut and appealed to growers not to be misled by unfounded reports.
On the contrary, the Congress leader said the Centre was taking all steps have taken to protect the interests of the growers.
Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Malenadu Mithra Vrinda in Bangalore on Sunday, the Congress MP from Udupi-Chikmaglur said the Centre has not used word "ban."
Hegde said he checked with Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, who had informed him that there was no proposal before his ministry to ban arecanut.
However, he said all reports in India indicated absence of carcinogenic in arecanut and therefore no was no need for banning arecanut that was grown in parts of Karnataka.
He clarified that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation had in a 2008 monograph stated that "arecanut is carcinogenic to humans."
There is "sufficient evidence" of the carcinogenicity of betel quid (paan) with and without added tobacco, the WHO said.
On September 6, 2013, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Director Amal Pusp had written a letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to examine the scientific evidences on the harmful effects of arecanut with a view to initiating necessary action to classify the nut as an injurious substance.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Director, in his letter, had asked for examining prohibition of the use of arecanut as an ingredient in any food product, in conformity with the objectives of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption if it was scientifically established that it contained harmful effects.
Hegde said he would discuss with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Director Sandhya Kabra and provide all details about the absence of harmful effects in arecanut.
Arecanut as such was not harmful, the Congress leader said and pointed out that products mixed with arecanut could be harmful to health.
Senior Congress leader B L Shanker said the agriculture is a state subject and the Centre has no power to ban arecanut.
Shankar contended that neither the Centre nor the State banned arecanut.
Prof T N Prakash of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, said "arecanut is a food item.”
Tracing the history of the crop, he said the WHO has cooked up the report.
"It is a bogus report," Prof Shankar said arguing that vested interests were behind banning arecanut and thereby harm the large number of arecanut growers.
JD(S) MLA and Deputy Leader in the State Assembly Y S V Datta, who also attended the interaction, also opposed any proposal to ban arecanut.