The Hindu : Front Page : Stop making Endosulfan: Sudheeran

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Thursday, Apr 28, 2011
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Stop making Endosulfan: Sudheeran

Staff Reporter

— Photo: H. Vibhu

Team spirit:Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran lighting a lamp to express solidarity with the

KOCHI: Senior Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran has said that public sector Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. (HIL) at Eloor should immediately stop the production of Endosulfan.

In his inaugural address at an anti-Endosulfan campaign attended by several persons representing social, environmental and political parties in front of the company here on Wednesday morning, Mr. Sudheeran said that HIL could diversify its product range while deciding to stop Endosulfan production.

He said the employees need not fear that they would lose jobs, if the production of the pesticide was stopped. The government should initiate steps to protect the interests of workers by evolving plans to produce bio-friendly pesticides at HIL.

Pointing out that Union and State governments should take the lead in announcing a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the victims of Endosulfan, Mr. Sudheeran said the company manufacturing the pesticide should also provide compensation to the victims. It should also be collected from the Plantation Corporation of Kerala which was responsible for the aerial spraying of Endosulfan in Kasaragod, he said.

Explaining that there was no relevance for any further study on the adverse impact of the pesticide on human lives, Mr. Sudheeran said the Union government should first ban Endosulfan before initiating any new study. He said the stance taken by the Indian delegation at the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Geneva dented the image of the nation known for its continuing support for human rights.

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