The government must suspend the use of dangerous pesticides linked to the death of bees, a committee of MPs said on Friday.

The work of the Rs.200 crore worth projects funded by the National Bank for Rural Development (NABARD) aimed at infrastructure development in the endosuflan-affected localities in the district will be inaugurated at Bovikkanam near here on April 5.

The function would be inaugurated by Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneer and Agriculture Minister K. P. Mohanan, P. Karunakaran, MP, said at a prèss conference here on Tuesday.

Panchayat-level monitoring cell to be floated

Having received clear cut assurances from the State government on majority of issues pertaining to the complex relief and rehabilitation package, the Endosulfan Peedhitha Janakeeya Munnani (EPJM) is now trying to evolve a mechanism to ensure that the authorities implemented the decisions in a time-bound manner.

Syngenta and Bayer, top producers of the pesticides blamed for a sharp fall in bee populations around the world, have proposed a plan to support bee health to try to forestall a European Union ban

Around 61 percent of fish taken from three fish farms in Fandong village, Shaoguan city of Guangdong province, were found to have contained lead exceeding the maximum limit of the national standard

Syngenta and Bayer, top producers of the pesticides blamed for a sharp fall in bee populations around the world, have proposed a plan to support bee health to try to forestall a European Union ban

Endosulfan Peedhitha Janakeeya Munnani has announced that it will go ahead with its agitation following failure of talks held with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Thursday.

The Munnani convenor Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan told The Hindu that the Chief Minister had conceded hardly any of their demands. Regarding conduct of another medical camp to identify fresh victims, Mr. Chandy had only promised a decision at the next round of talks on Monday.

Environmentalists in the city have urged the state government to take immediate steps to save the life of Mohan Kumar who is on a hunger strike at the High Court Junction demanding a comprehensive compensation package for victims of endosulfan in Kasargod district.

Inaugurating a protest meeting at the High Court junction, environmentalist M K Prasad said the government could not back track from the responsibility of providing protection to the victims.

Formal discussion on Monday

As the indefinite hunger strike seeking swift and comprehensive rehabilitation of endosulfan victims in the district entered 31st day on Wednesday, a five-member delegation of agitating activists will hold preliminary talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday ahead of the formal talks scheduled on Monday.