Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Aug 24: Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, said that a case alleging that areca nut has cancerous content and that it is harmful for health, is before the Supreme Court. "I am aware that the proverbial sword of Damocles is hanging on areca nut. But the central government is committed to see that areca nut comes out clean in the case and to serve interests of the areca growers," she stated.

Speaking to media persons here on Monday August 23, Shobha expressed the opinion that cancerous matter might appear in areca nuts after chemicals are sprayed but otherwise the areca nuts grown in farms are clean and not harmful. No one has faced danger after consuming it so far. This point has to be proved in the court and we are ready to do that," she stated.

She pointed out that areca nut is fetching a good price now because of the fact that its import has been banned. "As we have to adhere to foreign agreements, we cannot altogether stop import of the product. India cannot snap agreements entered with SAARC nations. There is also time limit for such things. We have stopped areca nut smuggling into the country through secret routes. We will continue to see that such wrong things do not happen in the future too," he said.