Endosulfan detoxification process to begin on 17th June in Kerala

Back to organic farming

To detoxify the stock of endosulfan kept in corroded barrels at three godowns of the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK), the deadly pesticide will be transferred to fresh barrels from Sunday.

Part of the first phase of the detoxification programme ‘Operation Blossom Spring,' the process would begin at the PCK godown at Periye at 10 a.m.

Similar process would be carried out at the PCK godown at Panathady village and the one at Cheemeni in the following days, Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan told a press conference here on Saturday after holding a review meeting with senior district officials.

The pesticide would be transferred into the new barrels, strictly abiding by the guidelines of the World Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation, and other United Nations agencies besides the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutant Review Committee held last year and with complete transparency, the Minister said.

The programme was initiated after a high-level meeting chaired by the Agriculture Minister here in April decided to clear the obsolete pesticide to safer barrels before it was shifted for detoxification and safe disposal in a couple of months by involving the Defence Research Development Organisation and Hindustan Insecticide Ltd, he said.

“Operation Blossom Spring aims to restore organic farming practices back in the district and preserve the ecological balance,” Mr. Mohanan said adding that the coming months would witness concerted efforts to fulfil the dream of turning Kasaragod as an organic district.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3536785.ece#.T9zB2ZtlJaM.gmail