I respect the decision of the government of Kerala and if there is evidence to show that it has all India health effects, we will ban it at the national level," Ramesh had said.Lashing out at the Union minister, Achuthanandan said "Is Ramesh, who poses himself as a person seriously concerned over environmental issues, not living in this country to be unaware of the grievous problems caused by endosulfan in places like Kasargode? "Not only in 11 panchayats in Kerala but also parts of Karnataka, from where Ramesh hails, are suffering from the harmful effects of endosulfan," he said in a statement."Ramesh has always claimed that he is deeply concerned about environmental issues. But his stand on the endosulfan issue exposed his environmental concerns as mere hypocrisy," Achuthanandan said.Endosulfan is banned in as many as 81 countries after it was found to pose a grim danger to men and nature. Some of the studies conducted by panels appointed by Centre had established the danger posed by the pesticide, he said."Again and again demanding for more proof would be deplorable," Achuthanandan said."Through this self-deception, Ramesh has insulted the very position of the Union environment minister he holds," he said.State Health Minister P K Sreemathy, who today led an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue, said no firm assurance had been given by the Centre on banning endosulfan."The Prime Minister said the state would be informed of the Centre's stand after examining the study reports and allied documents on the issue", Sreemathy said in New Delhi. Read the full report here.
Source: IBN Live, Thiruvananthapuram.
