Fresh evidence has emerged about prevalence of endosulfan residues in the groundwater of Kasaragod district and recent use of the pesticide in the area.

A study by P.S. Akhil and C.H. Sujatha of the Department of Chemical Oceanography of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) reported that organochlorine insecticides, particularly high concentrations of endosulfan and BHC (hexachlorobenzene), were persisting in the environment. This was despite restrictions on use of BHC, and ban imposed by the High Court and the government on use of endosulfan. The pesticide residues which remained in the soil from earlier application become the source of pollution of water bodies through land runoff, leaching and ultimately contaminate drinking water sources.

The Plantation Corporation of Kerala, the public sector company promoting cash crops, has decided to seek State Government’s permission to move court against the manufactures of Endosulfan, which includes public sector firms like Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL).

Endosulfan is an off-patent pesticide recently banned in the country for its toxic effects on humans. According to the corporation chairman Varghese George, the manufacturers were actually responsible for the tragedy that had struck several villages in Kasaragod. Mr George was referring to large-scale congenital deformities reported in Kasaragod district.

Demand to consider plea to write off loans

Hundreds of endosulfan victims in the district are awaiting news from the State government which has, in principal, agreed to implement the relief and rehabilitation packages suggested by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Hopes were raised after the visit of the three-member team of Ministers who held discussions with various agencies and organisations that have been fighting for the cause of the victims for years.

The State government will implement a Rs.5.60-crore health scheme named ‘Tejaswini’ for the benefit of endosulfan victims in the district, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has said. The government would enlist a number of hospitals where endosulfan victims would get free treatment, he told mediapersons here on Tuesday.

Two modern ambulances would be operational from Wednesday. In appointing doctors, the government intended to accord priority to those domiciled in the district. Only seven of the 300 doctors posted in the district through the Public Service Commission opted to join service, Mr. Sivakumar said.

Eight small hydro power schemes mooted

In a bid to enhance power generation, the Small Hydro Promotion Cell of the Energy Management Centre, attached to the Department of Power, has proposed eight small hydro-power schemes in Kozhikode district. Some of these projects, already showcased at Emerging Kerala, which concluded in Kochi on Friday, have been envisaged to attract investors through the ‘Independent Power Producer’ and the ‘Captive Power Producer’ initiatives.

Acknowledging that agricultural production in the State in recent years had gone down drastically with many a farmer withdrawing from the traditional sector, a meeting of the subcommittee to formul

The State government is delaying the implementation of the rehabilitation package for endosulfan victims as directed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), P. Karunakaran, MP, has said.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Mr. Karunakaran said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had told him in Thiruvananthapuram on August 26 that a three-member Ministerial team would visit the district to sort out the confusion over the revised list of victims. The date of visit had been fixed as September 18. Any delay in the team’s visit would only aggravate the issue as the mothers of endosulfan victims had called off their 130-day agitation on August 27.

‘Union government bent on scuttling nationwide ban’

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) alleged here on Thursday that that the State government was trying to weaken the case of hundreds of impoverished endosulfan victims by refusing to implement the relief and rehabilitation package recommended by the National Human Rights Commission, while the Union government was bent on scuttling the orders for a nationwide ban on the “killer” pesticide.

The mothers of endosulfan victims of Kasaragod district have temporary withdrawn their agitation; but the struggle continues both at home and against the government.

Assistance for life-long care of disabled, which takes most of their time, is still a trickle though it is far better than some years ago. Availability of treatment has improved over the years in the affected region. Some patients are now getting home based palliative care and physical therapy.

Finding the talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy “fruitful,” the Endosulfan Peeditha Janakeeya Munnani, a people’s front in support of the victims, has decided to suspend the 130-day indefinite relay hunger strike by the mothers of the victims.

Mr. Chandy, during the discussions with a delegation, led by P. Karunakaran, MP, and district panchayat president P.P. Shyamala Devi, in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, promised steps to meet the demands raised by the mothers for the rehabilitation of the victims and their families as suggested by the National Human Rights Commission, Ambikasudan Mangad, leader of the front, said at a press conference here on Monday.

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