The National Green Tribunal’s southern bench in Chennai has issued notices to the Union Government, the Karnataka and Kerala State Governments and their respective pollution control boards, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Kottayam-headquartered Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK), on a complaint of alleged illegal and unscientific dumping of endosulfan in the hilly area of Minchinpadavu in Kasaragod district of Kerala, which is near Nettanige-Mudnur village in Karnataka.
In the complaint, Ravindranath Shanbhogue, president of Udupi-based Human Rights Protection Foundation, had sought directions against the respondents, more so, against the PCK over alleged dumping of endosulfan in an abandoned well within the plantation area of PCK. The dumping has contaminated the ground water, which affected residents of Nettanige-Mundnur and adjoining villages downhill in Karnataka, he alleged.
Mr. Shanbhogue, who has been fighting for endosulfan victims, said endosulfan has been sprayed by PCK in cashew plantations at Minchinapadavu for over two decades. Following protests by environmentalists, the PCK discontinued spraying endosulfan in 2002. Spraying of endosulfan resulted in several children being born with mental and physical impairment. Among those severely affected included the neighbourhood of Nenjuparamba cashew plantations at Minchinapadavu.
