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Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) (Kottayam, Kerala, India)
COMPANY DETAILS Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK)
Kottayam
Kerala
India
Fully owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of Kerala.
CEO : Managing Director (appointed by the Government of Kerala)
Location of damage Kasaragod District, Kerala State, India.
Company activity Pesticide Application: The method used for application has been
aerial spraying. Spraying was done more than twice a year in
recommended concentrations without following the basic precaution
of covering all drinking water sources of the local population, a total
violation of the conditions of licensing and failing to protect people
and properties from being exposed. The Government appointed
committee also observed that the PCK neither followed the
recommendations or the precautionary measures.
Type of incident Aerial spraying of the persistent toxic chemical, Endosulfan over a
densely populated area intended only for agricultural reasons.
Type of damage Surface water sources such as tanks, streams, ponds and soil have
been continuously poisoned with Endosulfan. Very high residues of
pesticide have been reported to be found in the drinking water
sources and soil. None of the drinking water sources, including
wells, were protected, contrary to the conditions of licensing.
Cashew, Non-target Vegetables, leaves and other crops were also
contaminated. High residues were reported in cashew, vegetables,
pepper, cashew leaves 127 .
Death of bees, foxes, cows, buffalo and congenital deformation in
domestic cattle have been observed. The community has also
noticed serious declines in populations of frogs, bees, some insects
and birds 128 . Very high residues were reported in butter, cows milk,
cows fat, live frog 129 .
Workers received no safety measures or protective clothing. They
suffered violations of human and workers rights, forced into silence
by disciplinary action and harassment 130 . The community has been
exposed to the pesticides and breathing difficulties and eye
afflictions reported. Children reported vomiting, dizziness at school.
Effects continued from three days to months 131 .
Chronic illnesses such as cancer, congenital anomalies,
127 Pesticide Residue Monitoring Study, Pollution Monitoring Laboratory, Centre for Science and Environment:CSE, January
2001.
128 Long Term Monitoring – LMIPPE Part II Report, Thanal Conservation Action & Information Network ), February 2002.
129 Op cit, CSE, January,2001.
130 Op cit, Thanal,February,2002.
131 Testimonies by the Endosulfan affected community,ESPAC, Kasargod, 2002.
132 Report of the Fact-finding team, Pesticide Action Network – Asia Pacific, 2002
133 op cit CSE,January,2001.
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