JAMMU: Expressing grave concern over the mushroom growth of pesticide and other Pollution creating units in Jammu Division particularly in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Vijaypur areas during the last few years, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and former Minister has strongly urged upon the govt to install an effective regulatory mechanism to regulate the same so as to save the populace from exposure to their extremely hazardous effects.
As per a press release, issued today, he regretted that hundreds of toxic pesticides banned in various states had been granted licenses by the J&K govt in the past without bothering about the damage they were doing to the human race and to the ecosystems. He said that the state govt agencies had not only granted licenses to produce the highly toxic pesticides and insectides in the state but the same were being renewed year after year despite the immense damage being caused to the environment including pollution of air, water, flora and fauna, fish, bird, animal habitats besides human beings.
Supporting the agitation launched by Kathua residents especially womenfolk against Industrial Pollution, he said that there were numerous complaints of serious ailments having been caused to the people in the vicinity of such polluting units in Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur districts besides damage to the agricultural produce but regretfully the authorities concerned had turned a deaf ear to the entreaties of the affected persons due to their vested interests.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh deplored that the state regulatory bodies were hand in glove with the Pollution creating units and were renewing their licenses despite the highly dangerous toxics being manufactured in such units. He was apprised by affected populace that several pesticides namely Carbofuran, Chlorpyrifos, Phorate, Atazine, Monocrotophos, Newsicle, Furadan, Fusilaxole, Deltamethsin, Curatar etc which were declared as extremely hazardous by WHO were being produced without any check what soever.
He regretted that toxic pesticides units continue to be allowed to operate in J&K especially Jammu region despite their highly hazardous effects including nausea, nervous and respiratory, paralysis, reproduction problems, environmental toxicity, chest discomforts, skin ailments, cancer etc. He said that not only were they being allowed to operate with impunity but were granted several concessions by the state govt including interest subsidy, CIS, toll exemption etc. He said that not a single officer of the Health, Agriculture, or pollution Control had ever taken any action against any such unit for violation of Food Safety Act, Insecticides Act or under various Environmental Laws.
Calling upon the state govt to break the govt officials – unit holders nexus, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh sought the review of the policy with regard to such Pollution causing units in state. He said that the industries Deptt must act before it was too late in view of unimaginable damage being caused by such units to the human life, health, agriculture crops and the environment in the state by these outside manufacturers concerned solely about their profits.
He said Panthers Party would be forced to resort to agitational course in case the helmsman failed to initiate action against the producers of such dangerous pesticides and other highly toxic chemicals which constituted the greatest threat to environment and human life in the near future.