Toxic row

Industry lobby is at work to dilute the proposed ban on 27 widely used hazardous pesticides

- MEENAKSHISUSHMA AND CHINMAYI SHALYA

Just as it was thought that India took the landmark step towards banning the manufacture and sale of 27 widely used hazardous pesticides, already discontinued in other countries, the draft notification has whipped up a storm with the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (mocf) and the industry groups vehemently opposing the ban. Worse, the Union agriculture ministry that proposed the draft order on May 14 and sought suggestions or comments from stakeholders within 45 days, now appears to be buckling under the pressure. On June 10, it extended the period for public comments to 90 days and quietly changed the notification text to allow manufacturers to produce the pesticides for export.