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This article is from Deccan Herald. I didn't save the URL, so I am posting

the article itself.

-Nataraj

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Killer disease stalks padre village

 

From Varadesh Hiregange (DHNS)

MANGALORE, Dec 31

 

Death seems to rain from above in Padre village situated exactly

on the

border between Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada) and Kerala

(Kasaragod).

Technically, it belongs to Kasaragod district. A trail of

destruction in the

form of deadly diseases has caught up with this village sparing

neither man

nor animal.

 

In the recent past, a series of disturbing incidences of cancer,

psychiatric

cases, epilepsy, asthma, infertility and suicide in the village,

have

noticeably increased, according to the villagers.

 

While only a detailed investigation can reveal the reason for

this, there is

a wide-spread perception that it must be related to the

large-scale

insecticide (Endo Sulphan) sprinkled on the cashew crop in the

district by

the Kerala Cashew Corporation thrice a year.

 

Significantly, there has been a series of protests by the people

in Kasaragod

district (in such places as Mulleria, Peria, Perla, Padre etc)

against the

use of such insecticide by the Cashew Corporation in such scale,

which they

claim is high toxic. The pesticide is actually sprinkled on the

cashew plants

using a helicopter since a long time.

 

The pesticide is primarily used to protect the cashew crop from

tea

mosquitoes. Not only have people suffered its " direct

side-effects " but also

fish, reptiles, cattle, bird deaths, cow infertility, asthma

etc. But it is

the more " indirect, subtle and long-term " effect that is visible

in Padre

village, contend the villagers. According to Sri Padre, the

award-winning

former editor of Adike Pathrike who is also the resident of the

village,

there is a relation between the use of pesticide by the Cashew

Corporation

and disease incidence. " We have actually seen birds and cattle

dying due to

this pesticide. Moreover Endo Sulphan has been banned in many of

the

developed countries as it has proven toxic effects even on human

foetus, " he

pointed out.

 

A rivulet in Padre village is a source of the drinking water for

many

villagers. Besides, there are hundreds of wells which are not

protected

during the sprinkling of pesticide. The contaminated water could

be one cause

of disaster and climatic pollution could be another. " I have

observed

increasing cases of cancer, mental disorder, infertility,

abortion and

asthma, " Sri Padre added.

 

One medical practitioner Dr Y Mohan Kumar from the village has

written about

this phenomenon in the Kerala Medical journal. He also suspects

a definite

link between the insecticide and such a development. He has also

confirmed

the increasing number of all such diseases.

 

Another resident Rajaram Bhat has observed that the pesticide

spray has

killed honey-bees in large numbers. The areca nut gardens are

invaded by

Kajji insects as never before. The fish in the well-springs have

been killed.

 

" The Government speaks of compensation. But how can it

compensate for the

loss of life and genetic disorder. There have been mild

protests. But the

Corporation is using the police force to browbeat the movement, "

he alleged.

 

Mr Bhat's reports were also confirmed by another resident

Sripathi Kajampadi.

He has seen honey-bees, birds, peacock and fish dying. There are

reports of

blood cancer and skin cancer. The progenies of families using

uncovered

water-sources are genetically defective. The villagers are now

demanding an

immediate ban on helicopter spray of pesticide by the Cashew

Corporation and

a detailed study into the events.

 

 

 

 

 

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