NHRC issues notice to Centre, Punjab govt over pesticides use

NewsBharati    01-Feb-2018
Total Views |

New Delhi, February 1: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Centre and Punjab Government over reported high incidence of serious diseases in the Malwa region of the state due to excessive use of pesticides and insecticides.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report, the Commission asked Union Health Secretary and State Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within six weeks. They have also been asked to inform about the steps taken, after 2012, when the Commission had disposed the matter on the assurance given by the State Government for affirmative and prompt action to deal with the menace.

 

The NHRC said, it seems that even after a lapse of a period of more than seven years, things have not moved and the people residing in the region are still suffering from various diseases including cancer, liver failure, renal failure and birth defects.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has approved a ban on the sale of Endosulfan and 19 other insecticides reported to be harmful for human beings as well as from the environmental sustainability and economic viability aspects. The ban will be effective from today.

NHRC NHRC Notice Pesticides Centre Punjab govt Agriculture Farmer Farmer Suicide Health