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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Endosulfan used on expert advice: PCK

Endosulfan used on expert advice: PCK

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published Published on Dec 9, 2010   modified Modified on Dec 9, 2010

Affidavit before Kerala High Court

The decision to conduct aerial spraying of Endosulfan over the cashew estates of the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) was taken on the basis of the recommendations of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and other institutions, according to an affidavit filed by the PCK before the Kerala High Court.

In the affidavit, PCK Managing Director N.K. Manoj said the allegation that the aerial spraying of the insecticide was started in 1976 was false. The PCK began regular spraying only in 1983.

The affidavit said that tea mosquitoes started attacking cashew plantations in the earlier part of 1977, causing a vertical fall in yield and production. As the conventional method failed to prevent the attack, the PCK management sought expert advice from the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) and the KAU. They had advised the PCK to use aerial spraying of specified pesticides. Endosulfan was the most prominent among the pesticides recommended.

The CPCRI, Kasaragod, had done a study in 1977-78 on the request of the PCK. The CPCRI suggested that aerial spraying of Endosulfan was effective and economic against the attack of tea mosquitoes.

CPCRI list

Besides, the CPCRI sent a list of pesticides in which Endosulfan was included. In response to another request by the PCK in 1988, the Directorate of Cashew Nut Development sent a list of chemicals recommended by the All India Coordinated Cashew Improvement Project and the National Research Centre for Cashew which included Endosulfan for controlling tea mosquitoes.

Apart from these recommendations, the PCK received written opinion from the KAU and others recommending the use of Endosulfan. Scientists of the university conducted aerial praying at the estates of the PCK at Cheemeni for three consecutive years from 1982-83 to 1984-85 and recommended the dosage of aerial spraying.

The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition filed by T. Asaf Ali, president, Indian Lawyers' Congress, seeking to constitute a special tribunal for identifying Endosulfan victims in Kasaragod and awarding compensation to them.

Sanction

The affidavit said spraying was carried out only as prescribed and advised by the authorities. The mixing was done as recommended by the experts and spraying conducted after obtaining sanction from the District Collector and publishing the same through the media and public notice. The PCK took all precautionary steps at the time of spraying. There were absolutely no complaints from anybody regarding the spraying. Even before the ban on Endosulfan in the State by the High Court in 2002, the Board of Directors of the Corporation decided to stop procurement and use of Endosulfan in the estates of the PCK as early as in 2000.

The affidavit added that Endosulfan used by the corporation was approved for application on edible crops by Central and State governments. Its production, distribution and application had never been banned by any of the competent authorities in the country under the Insecticides Act or any other law.

The Hindu, 10 December, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article943094.ece


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