Monday, March 1, 2010

VS seeks total ban on Endosulfan

Thiruvananthapuram: The State government will put pressure on the Centre to announce a permanent ban on the use of Endosulfan insecticide in cashew plantations in Kasaragod district, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the Assembly on Monday.



Replying to a submission by C.H. Kunhambu (CPI-M), he said the temporary ban on Endosulfan imposed by the Centre, after protests from local people who were affected by health problems caused by the insecticide, was not enough as its use had proved fatal.



He said around 400 people had died due to the ill-effects of the insecticide in the district and their relatives were being given Rs.50,000 each as compensation.



The Chief Minister said 178 families had already been given the compensation. The government had also set apart Rs.50 lakh to set up a special cell for treatment of the affected people.



He said Rs.128 lakh had been given from the Chief Minister�s Relief Fund to develop facilities in hospitals in the area for the treatment of Endosulfan-affected people.



In his submission, Mr. Kunhambu said people in 11 villages in the district had been affected by Endosulfan spraying.

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