Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Nov 15: Activists of Anti Endosulfan Action Committee blocked the functioning of a team of health department officials, which had arrived at Enmakaje gram panchayat limits to undertake another study about the ill-affects of endosulfan use. Endosulfan, an insecticide-cum-acaricide, which was in use in the past particularly in cashew plantations, is blamed for a number deaths, diseases, and birth of children with various deformities.

Office bearers of the committee alleged that the arrival of the team all of a sudden, without given any prior information, is an attempt at hoodwinking the local people. They said that conducting of a survey in a hurry will not serve any useful purpose, and that separate exhaustive questionnaire needs to be prepared before any survey can be undertaken. They pointed out that the team, which should have given intimation about their arrival in advance to the gram panchayat president, standing committee chairpersons, health officer, medical officer of the primary health officer and other non-governmental agencies has failed to do so.

They said that the survey report needs to be submitted to the gram panchayats for their discussion and approval, and that if the panchayats find any lacunae in the report, the same should be brought to the notice of the district level Endosulfan Relief Committee to find a solution for the same.

In the meanwhile, the state High Court, which has taken the reports that endosulfan, the sale of which has been banned in the state, is freely available in the market. It has opined that there is a need to undertake an exhaustive inquiry as to how this product is being sold in the state. It has suggested that the company which manufactures this insecticide, should be made as a party to the case. The court, raising these issues while hearing a petition moved against the endosulfan sale, also has instructed the union government to make its stand clear in the matter.