Endosulfan not the reason for diseases in Kerala: Centre

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 3: A counter affidavit filed before the Supreme court by the ministry of agriculture might shock the keralites that the health problems in Kasargod villages were not caused by endosulfan.

Kasargod, once famous for its greenery is today haunted by diseases and tragedy. Acting positive over public outcry on banning of endosulfan, the State govt has banned the use of the dreaded insecticide.

The Centre said that there was no evidence that the proper use of endosulfan caused health problems. Kerala"s problems were caused by the indiscriminate aerial spraying of endosulfan on the Kasargod plantations, it said.

The affidavit pointed out that the countries which banned endosulfan had low agricultural activity and India could not afford to imitate them. Further, the Centre claimed that the World Health Organisation too had given clean chit to endosulfan.

The opposition leader of Kerala Assembly, V.S. Achuthanandan, and the senior Congress leader, V.M. Sudheeran, sharply criticised the Centre"s affidavit saying it was meant to help pesticide giants.

OneIndia News