Thiruvananthapuram: Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in vegetable farms and banana plantations threatens to pollute water sources and contaminate the environment, an investigation conducted in Venganoor grama panchayat limits has revealed.

The findings were reported by an inquiry conducted by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) K.V. Mohankumar in the wake of a public outcry over pesticide contamination in a canal supplying drinking water to the Venniyoor area. The investigation found that farmers were using synthetically compounded fertilizers and highly toxic pesticides and weedicides without maintaining safeguards.

Banned pesticides such as benzene hexa chloride (BHC) and carbofuran 50 SP and toxic bug repellents for restricted use such as methyl parathion were reported to be widely used in some farms.

The report submitted to District Collector N. Ayyappan recommends a programme to promote organic farming and warn farmers of the hazards caused by reckless application of chemicals on crops.

The commonly used pesticides include malathion, carbofuran, quinalphos, carburyl, dimethoate, methyl parathion and chlorphyricphos under various brand names. Fungicides such as mancozeb and carbendazin and herbicides such as paraquat and glyphosate (Roundup) are widely preferred.

Other toxic chemicals were also reported to be used by farmers without adhering to prescribed restrictions on usage. The report says application of BHC on vegetable, fruit and oilseed crops was banned in February 1994.

Officials of the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, Keralam (VFPCK) told the investigators that fertilizers and pesticides were supplied to farmers through the Venganoor Swasraya Karshaka Samithi, a society formed by local farmers. However, farmers were procuring BHC and Roundup from other sources.

The reclaimed wetlands in the Venniyoor area are mostly used to cultivate banana, tapioca and vegetables. Some of the produce also makes its way to the export market. Pesticides are generally applied to the crops to ward off aphid, white flies, leaf bugs and stem borer in banana.

Chemical analysis of the water samples collected from the canal at Venniyoor had shown the presence of BHC and carbofuran. The Government Analytical laboratory, which tested the water samples, had certified that the water was unfit for drinking. However, the contaminated water did not enter the distribution system because the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) had shut down the pump house as soon as local people raised a hue and cry over discolouration of water on August 4.

The Venniyoor rural water supply scheme services over 3,000 households in the Venganoor panchayat area. The water from the canal is diverted to the filtration tank and redirected to a gallery for treatment and purification. The treated water is then pumped to an overhead reservoir at Nellivila for distribution through a network of pipes.

Mr. Mohankumar said local investigation had confirmed the laboratory analysis. "BHC is soluble in water and when dissolved, the chalk powder used as carrier material settles in the water. Eyewitnesses admitted they had seen a chalky deposit near the area where the discharge of carbofuran turned the water blue. The solution also had a sharp odour," he said.

Quoting the KWA officials, the inquiry report points to the possibility of a deliberate attempt to create panic by polluting the drinking water source. A group of people had tried to prevent officials from taking water samples to the laboratory for examination, it observes.

The report has proposed a detailed investigation by the police to identify the source of contamination and the intention behind the bid to prevent the chemical analysis of water samples.

The RDO has proposed strict controls on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in farms and an action plan to promote organic farming. He has recommended the use of organic fertilizers, biopesticides and safer insecticides such as neem kernel suspension and kerosene emulsion.

The report also highlights the need to discourage people from using the canal for bathing, washing of clothes and bathing cattle.

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