Endosulfan: Chief Minister hints at action against officials

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan said here on Sunday that action would be taken against officials of Plantation Corporation of Kerala who submitted affidavit before the High Court justifying the use of endosulfan.

The Chief Minister also hinted at action against officials of the Corporation and Agriculture Department who certified the use of endosulfan in the plantations of the Corporation.

The Chief Minister made the statement while inaugurating the ‘Karshaka Bhavanam’ and the State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) at Anayara here on Sunday.

“Those who vouched for the use of Endosulfan before the court should stand corrected,” he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan stressed that the citizens would no longer endure such atrocities. Those officers, who recommended the pesticide, were wholly responsible for the lives lost and suffering caused by the pesticide.

The Chief Minister commended the Agricultural Department and Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran for the novel idea of an accommodation cum training centre for farmers. He also appreciated the work of COSTFORD (Centre for Science Technology for Rural Development) for the timely completion of the project within a period of 14 months.

Listing out the reforms of the Agricultural Department in the past few years, such as a chemical pesticide-free Kasaragod, 60,000-hectare increase in area under paddy and pension and insurance for farmers; Mr. Achuthanandan said that the Department had made commendable achievement in agriculture development.

In his presidential address, Mullakkara Ratnakaran termed the inauguration of the ‘Bhavanam’ as a house warming ceremony for the farmers of Kerala. “This campus will provide affordable and quality accommodation for the farmers who visit the capital city”, he said.

The training Centre was established as part of the ATMA (Agriculture Technology Management Agency) project of the State Government. Apart from the Agricultural Department, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Departments will also impart their training through SAMETI.

The Agricultural Minister had laid the foundation for the building on August 17, 2008 and the construction for the same was started in May 2009. The 3.47 crore project was completed with a fund of 3.27 crore from the State Government and the rest from the Central Government. K. Jayakumar, Additional Chief Secretary and SAMETI Chairman, welcomed the gathering. Dr. G. Surendran, Director, Agricultural Department, presented a report on the ’Bhavanam’ and SAMETI. Minister for Law and Public Works M. Vijayakumar, Minister for Ports and Youth Affairs V. Surendran Pillai, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor K. Chandrika, Deputy Mayor, Happykumar were among those present for the function.