The Centre has sought the Supreme Court’s permission to use the available stock of the banned pesticide endosulfan for agricultural purpose on the ground that incinerating it will cost the exchequer Rs. 210 crore.

“The cost of disposal of the live stock of endosulfan by incineration shall be more than Rs. 210.82 crore, whereas phasing out will not only result in saving this huge amount on disposal but will also save the product (stock) worth Rs. 31.36 lakh, which will contribute to increased crop production,” the Agriculture Ministry told the court in an affidavit.