Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Apr 21: Even as the affected families came together under the umbrella of ‘Envisage’ organization in the town near the bus stand on Wednesday April 20, and narrated how their cups of woes were brimming, and in the process, shed tears, union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar, stressed that it would not be possible to enforce blanket ban on the insecticide, endosulfan, just because its adverse affect on health.

A number of people, predominantly women, narrated the problems their families have been going through because of endosulfan use, at the said programme. Well-known environmentalists and writers like K R Meera, Leelakumari Amma, and Ayesha Perla, delivered addresses supporting ban on this insecticide.

In the meanwhile, Karnataka High Court has instructed the state government to stop the publicity, both adverse and supportive, relating to endosulfan. Justice B S Patil of the High Court said that gaining publicity through the media or indulging in negative publicity against this insecticide is not right, as the case relating to it is pending before the High Court. His statement came after lawyers representing the company which produces endosulfan, brought to the court’s notice about malicious propaganda being made by the government about the ill-affects of the insecticide, claims being made by ministers about extending ban on it, etc. The company is saying that there is no proof that endosulfan was responsible for the health hazards suffered by scores of people, duly pointing out that three other insecticides were also widely used in the regions where ill-affects to health have been noticed. It is arguing that ban order passed by the state government against endosulfan is not justified, and has accused the government of being hand in glove with a multinational company and voluntary service organizations in enforcing the said ban.

Pawar, who noted that the states of Kerala and Karnataka have extended ban on endosulfan, said that before deciding on any future course of action against it, he will have to hold discussions with all other states. It may be noted that this insecticide was banned in a number of countries about two decades back.