German chemicals group BASF said it launched a legal challenge against the European Commission's ban of BASF's insecticide fipronil, imposed in July on concern its use as seed treatment is linked t

The Endosulfan Peedhitha Janakeeya Munnani (EPJM) took out a march to the Nenchanparamba locality in protest against the district administration’s failure to clear the earth used to cover a pit whe

A day after the Justice Ramachandran Nair Committee submitted its report on the endosulfan issue, outrage has erupted from various quarters in the state.

Kochi: Steps have been taken to provide compensation to endosulfan victims as recommended by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the state government has informed the high court. The government’s submission was in response to a November 28, 2012, directive of the high court.

The state said in an affidavit that it was not against implementing all the recommendations of the NHRC on the compensation issue. The government’s priority has been the health and security of the people, which led to the decision to ban endosulfan, N Nandakumar, secretary of health and family welfare department, said in the affidavit.

The environment ministry has simplified the procedures for granting clearances to special economic zones as it seeks to shed the anti-industry image.

PCB claims ‘zero’ discharge from factories

SAMBA: Eight buffaloes were killed while four others fell ill after they consumed poisonous water from a nallah coming from SIDCO Industrial complex Samba to Basantar river this afternoon. The members of the Gujjar community whose cattle were grazing near river Basantar came to know about the matter and rushed there. They found six animals dead and about half a dozen others writhing in pain on the ground. They lodged their strong protest and alleged that their cattle died after they drank polluted poisonous water coming from about twenty factories located in SIDCO complex Samba.

Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has termed shameful and despicable the Union government move to facilitate sale of endosulfan stocks. In a statement here on Tuesday, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that the Supreme Court had banned the sale and use of endosulfan in the entire country on the basis of a petition filed by the Democratic Youth Federation of India.

The Union government had tried its best to block such a verdict. Its present demand was for permission to sell endosulfan in States other than Kerala and Karnataka. This was nothing short of treason.