Petition in SC seeking ban on Endosulfan

New Delhi, April 26: A petition has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on sale and production of the pesticide Endosulfan across the country.

The petition filed by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), a youth wing of CPI(M), has sought a direction to the Centre to prohibit the sale of Endosulfan in its present form or any other derivatives in the market.

The organisation submitted that a large section of people was directly affected because of the use of Endosulfan which was already banned in 81 countries and the use of which was not permitted in another 12 countries.

The petitioner said several studies had documented that Endosulfan could also affect human development and it gave example of serious health hazards caused in Kasargod district.

"Researchers studying children from an isolated village in Kasaragod district, Kerala, India have linked Endosulfan exposure to delays in sexual maturity among boys.

Endosulfan is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide and acaricide.

"This colourless solid has emerged as a highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor," the petition said.

It said Endosulfan was the only pesticide applied to cashew plantations in the hills for 20 years and had contaminated the village environment.

The filing of petition assumes significance as Left parties and organisations associated with them have been leading protest in several parts of the country for imposition of ban on Endosulfan.

A group of Left MPs today held a protest in Parliament House demanding a ban on Endosulfan pesticide and questioned whether the reluctance on part of the government to take action in this regard pointed to another "scam".

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan has led the agitation by going on a day-long fast yesterday.

The Government had yesterday said it would take a view on the issue "in the best interest of the country" after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) submits its report.

"The use of Endosulfan has been banned in Kerala. However, imposing a nationwide ban would require national consensus backed by scientific study," a PMO release had said yesterday.

An all party delegation from Kerala had met the Prime Minister on February 22 and urged him to impose a nation-wide ban on the pesticide.

PTI