Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government
on Wednesday protested against the Centre's stand that use of
Endosulfan pesticide is unlikely to cause any public health
hazard and its request to the Supreme court to lift the ban on
its production and sale.
Reacting to the Centre's position on the issue in an
affidavit filed in the Apex Court in a connected case, Chief
Minister Oommen Chandy said the state cannot agree with the
Centre's view that Endosulfan was not causing health problems.
"The anguish and pain endured by people of a few
panchayats in Kasargode district is enough to prove the
harmful effects of endosulfan pesticide. We believe the
people's suffering in the area is due to the pesticide
itself", Chandy said.
The pesticide is banned in Kerala and the state is in
the process of implementing a rehabilitation and relief
package for hundreds of persons who are suffering due to
various illnesses caused as a result of spraying Endosulfan in
cashew plantations in the district.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, August 03, 2011, 18:32