The Union Government has no plans to ban use of endosulfan in the farming sector, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.
A committee, appointed to study various health problems noticed in areas where endosulfan was used, has not recommended any such ban of the hazardous chemical, Mr. Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The minister was apprised of the plight of people of a village in Kasaragod which had been badly affected by aerial spraying of endosulfan in cashew plantations and the state government's strong plea for its ban.
Although some countries had banned endosulfan, many others including the US, France and China have not banned its application. Besides, endosulfan was found to be very effective in controlling pests in certain crops and farmers cultivating these crops are against banning it, he said.
To a query, Mr. Pawar said import of edible oils would continue.
At present, the gap between domestic production and demand was about five million tonnes and edible oil being an essential commodity, the demand will have to be met with imports only, he said.
The government would review the situation as and when the production of edible oil in the country improves considerably, he added
