The death of 22 children who ate insecticide-laced food at the Dharma Sati Primary School Mashrak in Chhapra raises the issue of widespread availability of hazardous insecticides and the absence of any method to deal with their disposal as also of their containers which are often recycled in farming communities to store food and water.
Gopal Krishna heading Toxics Watch Alliance who has been closely monitoring developments at Chhapra said, “Organophosphorous, used as an insecticide, has been identified to be responsible for the deaths of these school kids. Organophosphate comprises a deadly cocktail of several chemicals including parathion, malathion and phosmet.”
The additional director general of police Ravinder Kumar confirmed to local reporters the finding of the forensic science laboratory report that Monocrotophos, an organophosphorous compound was found in the samples of oil from the container and on the food remains (on the platter) of the dead children.
What is extremely alarming is that the sample of organophosphorous found in the samples was five times more toxic than in its commercial preparation,” Mr Krishna said.
Environmentalists are shocked that the Central Insectides Board and Registration Committee headed by Dr B.S. Phogat under the ministry of agriculture has chosen to remain silent and not ordered any enquiry in the light of this tragedy.
The key issue is that the ministry of agriculture and the central and state pollution control boards must ensure proper inventorization of sale and disposal of all pesticides and their containers.
“The agencies involved in the probe must identify the name of the insecticide involved and also recommend a take back policy so that these manufacturers have an extended producers responsibility with regard to the residual insecticides and their containers,” said Mr Krishna.
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