Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Dec 23: A symposium on the Endosulfan Scandal was organized by the Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi, in collaboration with Vaikunta Baliga College of Law on December 23 at Vaikunta Baliga College of Law, Kunjibettu.
"For two decades, from 1980 to 2011, Endosulfan was sprayed by helicopters in government-sponsored cashew plantations in Karnataka and Kerala, causing severe health problems for 8,600 and 3,400 children in Karnataka and Kerala, respectively. Following a petition filed by the Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi, and others, the Supreme Court banned the use and sale of Endosulfan throughout India in 2011, also ordering the scientific disposal of existing stockpiles. The whole incident of dumping chemicals was explained by one of the employees who participated in the process," said Dr Ravindranath Shanbagh, president of the Human Rights Protection Foundation during the press meet.
Dr Ravindranath Shanbagh stated, "In the meeting conducted by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KLSA) presided over by Justice K N Phaneendra on January 11, 2022, I raised concerns about this issue. The minutes of the meeting emphasized the urgent need to remove the illegally dumped Endosulfan. The then-assistant commissioner of Puttur, K V Rajendra, acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, comparing the dumped Endosulfan to a ticking time bomb. Despite KLSA's letter to the Kerala Legal Services Authority on January 21, 2022, urging action on the matter, no concrete steps have been taken by the Kerala authorities till now."
Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Advocate of the Supreme Court, highlighted, "The chemical dumped may leak and get mixed with groundwater. Children are getting genetically affected. On the 28th, scientists of the Central Pollution Board will visit the place. The chemical was dumped underground in sealed cans nearly 10 years ago, which may leak in further years and cause problems in the future."
The disposal of Endosulfan stored in Plantation Corporation Kerala (PCK) warehouses was halted due to local opposition. The fate of this stockpile remained unknown for years, fading from public memory. In 2013, a retired PCK employee, Achutha Maniyani, came forward with a startling claim that around 600 liters of Endosulfan had been illegally dumped in an abandoned well at the cashew plantation situated in the Minchinpadavu Hillock. The Human Rights Protection Foundation, upon learning of this, complained to the district administration for action, but their pleas went unanswered.
The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Chennai has issued notices to the Union of India, the governments of Karnataka and Kerala, and their respective State Pollution Control Boards in response to a complaint regarding the illegal and unscientific dumping of toxic pesticide Endosulfan in the hilly area of Minchin Padavu, bordering the two states. The recent complaint filed with the NGT highlights the possible risk of groundwater contamination in villages near the Kerala-Karnataka border due to the dumped Endosulfan.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation and the lack of progress from the authorities, the NGT issued notices to the union environment ministry and other concerned parties, demanding an action-taken report within ten days. This case highlights the ongoing struggle for environmental justice and accountability in India. The NGT's intervention offers a ray of hope for the affected communities and serves as a reminder of the long-lasting consequences of environmental negligence.
Anurag Kini, advocate Vijayalaxmi, advocate Ramesh Shenoy, and others were present at the press meet.