CM Fadnavis calls for CBI probe into pesticide deaths in Maharashtra

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has called for a CBI probe against five companies in connection with the death of 18 Yavatmal farmers in the state due to pesticides.

The Central Institute of Cotton Research (CISR) carried out a detailed study at the state government’s behest and submitted its report on Thursday.

The report stated that herbicide tolerant genes were found in the BT cotton seeds of these companies. These seeds are not permissible under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1986.

In a statement issued on Thursday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “A FIR has been registered against these five companies in Nagpur. But it is also found that such type of seeds are being produced in many other states too and due to such seriousness, the government of Maharashtra has sent a request to the the government of India for a detailed CBI inquiry into this,” he said.

According to the article (7) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, no person shall import, export, transport, manufacture, process, use or sell any hazardous micro organisms or genetically engineered organisms/substances or cells except with the approval of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). The herbicide tolerant genes found in BT cotton seeds of the said five companies were not approved by the GEAC.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also taken the cognisance of the deaths and issued notices to the state and the Centre over it. It said that, “Most of the farmers in the country are not adequately literate and are relying on government agencies for the safe use of the agricultural products and ancillary techniques. The victim farmers have fallen prey to the callous and negligent attitude of the government departments. It appears that due to the lack of proper awareness about such a complicated technology for spraying pesticides on cotton crops, the farmers’ right to life and livelihood has been grossly violated.”