Telangana Assembly adopts resolutions condemning West Asia war, seeking ban on paraquat dichloride

HYDERABAD

The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday adopted two resolutions unopposed — one condemning the ongoing Middle East war between Israel/US and Iran and requesting the Centre to take initiative to stop the war and another requesting the Centre to ban paraquat dichloride, a weedicide/herbicide, that is claiming the lives of a number of farmers and farm workers.

Moving the resolution condemning the Middle East war, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka expressed fear that if continued the ongoing war could lead to the Third World War. He stated that the fallout of the West Asia war was only on that particular region but on the entire world as it was creating huge problems in getting imports of petroleum and other products to many countries and impacting their economies.

Thousands of people, including women and children, had already died in the war as the two sides were resorting to attacking and dropping missiles/bombs on schools and destitute homes besides other installations. Members of BJP wanted an opportunity to speak on the resolution but the Chair did not allow them.

Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao moved the resolution requesting the Centre to impose a ban immediately on manufacturing, import, storage and sale of ‘paraquat dichloride’, a herbicide being widely used by the farming community to control weeds. He stated that it was claiming the lives of a large number of farmers and farmworkers every year and it was already banned in about 70 countries.

Member Kadiyam Srihari said 98% of those who had consumed the herbicide either accidentally or intentionally in a fit of emotion due to distress or other reasons had succumbed as the chances of survival after consuming it were very remote since there was no antidote for it. About 2,000 farmers and farmworkers were dying every year by consuming the weedicide.

Mr. Srihari and a few other members of the Congress suggested the State government to ban it as Odisha and Kerala did since the States have powers to ban it for 60 to 90 days and extend it every time till the Centre bans it. Several other members also spoke on the resolution and explained the adverse impact of the herbicide on the society.