State justifies ban on endosulfan

 The state government said it banned the insecticide based on the report of the committee which it had formed. This committee which submitted its report in 2004 was of the opinion that the effects of endosulfan were harmful.

Defending the ban, the state further submitted that the agricultural universities of Dharwad and Raichur were also of the opinion that endosulfan was not necessary and other chemicals could do the same job.

Apart from that, the aerial spraying of the chemical on cashew crops in Dakshina Kannada were also destroying other crops and this particular insecticide was banned in Africa as well, the state pointed out.