Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Pollution
Control Board on Tuesday ordered closure of public sector company
Hindustan Insecticides Ltd, a major producer of the pesticide
Endosulfan, for "violation" of pollution and environmental
safety rules.
The company at Elur, near Kochi, had persistently violated
rules laid down to check air and water pollution and
environmental hazards, PCB Chairman K Sajeevan said.
The undertaking did not remove stocks of Endosulfan and
other hazardous chemicals at its disposal despite the Board
enforcing a ban on its manufacture and sale about a year back,
he said.
"We have given sufficient time to take steps on these
matters. Again and again, the company authorities have been
told about the violation of rules. But they chose to ignore
them," Sajeevan said.
He said the Board had some time back asked an experts` team
to look into the matter and the order to close down the
factory was taken on the basis of its report.
Kerala has been at the forefront of a campaign demanding
nationwide ban on Endosulfan as its use has allegedly caused
large number of deaths and serious health problems to hundreds
in Kasargode district.
Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has himself spearheaded
the campaign and undertook a day`s fast recently seeking a
nationwide ban on the pesticide and has written to his
counterparts in other states asking them for their support.
CPIM-led LDF had also organised a statewide hartal a few
days ago on the issue.
PTI
