New Delhi, April 25: As Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan went on a day-long fast demanding a nationwide ban on pesticide Endosulfan, the Centre today said it would take a view on the issue “in the best interest of the country” after the ICMR submits its report.
“The use of Endosulfan has been banned in Kerala.
However, imposing a nationwide ban would require national consensus backed by scientific study,” a PMO release said after Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy and KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Prime Minister informed the delegation that the Centre has “an open mind on this issue”.
Noting that a committee chaired by Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was presently examining the harmful effects of Endosulfan on the health of the people, the release said the Committee would be asked to “expedite” its report.
-Agencies