The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers presented its report on ‘Insecticides and Pesticides – Promotion and Development including Safe Usage – Licensing Regime for Insecticides’ on December 19, 2023. Pesticides are broadly of four types: insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and bio-pesticides. Herbicides kill/control the growth of weeds, and have the …
The Anti-Arsenic Movement in Sri Lanka has commenced an awareness campaign through distributing leaflets to educate the public about the dangers of using pesticides containing arsenic. The Movement has also called on authorities not to release a consignment of pesticides in the Customs Department stores that contains arsenic. Launching the …
The most prestigious market for Indian basmati rice, the USA, has put on hold all consignments of the rice being imported there. In a major setback to Indian basmati exporters, the US Food and Drug Authority has refused to accept basmati being exported to that country, on account of traces …
From the UN Rio+20 preparatory meetings in New York, ETC Group launches Who Will Control the Green Economy? The report connects the dots between the climate and oil crises, new technologies and corporate power. The report warns that the world’s largest companies are riding the coattails of the “Green Economy” …
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture is running a central sector scheme, "Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level" in food commodities and environmental samples since 2005-06 with the participation of various laboratories representing Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment …
Reports of a large number of fish dying in a river in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district have raised concerns about the toxicity of the water, particularly as it joins the Teesta river further downstream. “The reports of the deaths of large numbers of fish in the Karola river first came …
Demand for effective bio-pesticides rising across the globe Young research scholars and the scientists working on the synthesis of bio-pesticides that play a pivotal role in controlling the pests without polluting environment should make use of the funds available with the Union Government's Department of Science and Technology (DST) for …
People suffering from diseases suspected to be caused by exposure to aerial spraying of endosulfan will be provided free treatment at a medical college in Mangalore. As per a memorandum signed by the district administration and Yenepoya Medical College in Mangalore, the hospital would provide free treatment and required medicines …
There are 12 "hot spots" in eight States where river water was found to be contaminated. In the first ever report of its kind, the Central Water Commission (CWC) monitored water quality at 371 stations in river systems across the country and identified stretches that need urgent Government action. It …
Chalakudy River is yearning for a lifeline. Chalakudy River, the fifth largest river in the State, is faced with a series of risks including sand-mining, release of untreated effluents from an industrial unit and improper disposal of solid waste. The environmental monitoring programme on water quality of the Chalakudy River …
A Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) research spanning over 14 years has shown considerable decline in the level of contamination in different food commodities. Conducted by the university’s Department of Entomology between 1997 and 2010, the researchers, after analysing 3,300 food samples, found that the contamination level had come down to …
ALAPPUZHA: Two species of frogs found in Kerala are endangered, a study has found. The Green-eyed Bush Frog and the Resplendent Shrub Frog, found in the Western Ghats and in Munnar, have been listed as ‘critically endangered’ species in the paper published in the November issue of the IUCN (International …
Organisation collected Rs.87,26,804 to help the victims The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), which earned a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court in enforcing a ban on the deadly endosulfan pesticide, has fulfilled its promise by providing scholarships and announced rehabilitation packages to select victims utilising the public funds …
Karnal: “There is absolutely no evidence that pesticides are responsible for cancer in India, especially in the Malwa region of Punjab, Director-General, ICMR, and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Dr VM Katoch today said. Dr Katoch, who was the chief guest at the inauguration of a four-day international conference on …
The international phase-out of endosulfan with certain exemptions under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants will come into effect by the end of October next year. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in his capacity as depositary, has issued notification on October 27 asking parties to the Convention …
Kerala government is in a fix with the National Human Rights Commission issuing notice to the State government for non-payment of adequate compensation to victims of pesticide endosulfan in Kasaragod district. The Commission had recommended, in its order in December last, payment of Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to the …
The State Government has approached the Centre for assistance to implement the endosulfan package, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said after a Cabinet meeting. Rs 500 crore would be required to implement an NHRC proposal to provide compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the victims. The government has …
The central government has planned a push for cotton farmers on regulatory concerns. It also has financial help in mind. It is to introduce the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill in Parliament’s winter session. Vilasrao Deshmukh, minister for science and technology, told the World Cotton Research Conference the performance …
After an initial spurt of enthusiasm, the United Democratic Front government of Kerala has slackened in its efforts to rehabilitate endosulfan victims of Kasargod. The first step the UDF government took after assuming power was to double the compensation given to the families of endosulfan victims. Almost five months later, …
Senior Congress leader V. M. Sudheeran has called for a pesticide management policy for the safety of people and environment from the hazardous pesticides. He was addressing a workshop organised by the Thrissur District Panchayat on Friday as part of its mission to turn Thrissur an eco-friendly district. He said …
This report by Blacksmith Institute reveals that worst pollution problems stem not from MNCs, but from poorly regulated small-scale operations and it also calculates for the first time, the health impacts of toxic sites. The World's Worst Toxic Pollution Problems 2011 report reveals that contrary to popular belief, most toxic …
