Villagers' plea to ban endosulfan

Planters in and around Basarikatte are spraying Endosulphan to prevent coffee borer attack. Meanwhile, villagers are anxious about the possibilities of water pollution through the spray of Endosulphan.

A demand for ban was raised since several villages in Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal and Kasaragod in Kerala had faced the dire conequences of Endosulphan, which is a banned pesticide in many parts of the world. It has been proved that the Endosulphan would enter into human body through inhalation and create several health hazards including physical handicap, impotency and infertility. Basarikatte villager Gopal appealed to the officials concerned to take necessary steps to ban the use of Endosulphan.

Gram Panchayat President Vijayakumar said that the Panchayat would take resolution to direct farmers and planters not to spray Endosulphan. Villagers warned that a mass protest will be organised if farmers continue to spray Endosulphan.