Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Dec 11: Farmers need not worry about the central government's plan to impose ban on arecanut, said Konkodi Padmanabh, President of Campco, addressing media persons at Campco head office hall here on Wednesday December 11.

"The health department of the central government had urged the Supreme Court to impose ban on arecanut last September. Likewise, the advocates representing the central government had been argued in the court in favour of the ban. Campco is an association that has been with the arecanut growers at all times, and is now fighting against the ban," he added.`

"Campco along with various associations has been fighting against the Gutka ban too. We have been appearing for the hearing and the next stage will be in the coming month," he added.

"Six well-known and veteran advocates have been arguing on behalf of arecanut growers, namely Ram Jethmalani, Vishwanath Shetty, retired high court judge, Sundaram, K N Bhat, Basavaprabhu Patel and Binu Madhavan. Campco has sumbitted all the legal documents to these advocates," he said.

"With regard to the ban on Gutka, the team met Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, as 60% of the total sales are in Gujarat. Narendra Modi has responded positively to our appeal," he added.

"Various scientific bodies have declared that arecanut is not harmful and it does not cause cancer, and that it is used as a medicinal cure. In the year 2007, the Karnataka High Court too declared that arecanut was not harmful, but has lots of medicinal uses. Even the Food Security Corporation of the central government has considered arecanut as a food substance," he said.

"Thus, the ban on arecanut is not feasible by any means and hence the arecanut farmers need not worry about this matter. Campco will fight against the ban in every way," he added.

K Satishchandra Bhandary, vice-president, Campco and M Suresh Bhandary, MD, Campco were present.