Odisha Govt Bans Paraquat Used For Destroying Weeds

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has banned Paraquat, a highly toxic substance widely used as a herbicide for weed and grass control.

According to Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the decision was taken on the advice of the chief minister’s office, which had received feedbacks on Mo Sarkar initiative, to prevent any further loss of human lives due to poisoning cases.

The ban will be initially effective for a period of two months, during which sale, stock, distribution, manufacturing and use of this toxic chemical will prohibited in the entire state, in accordance with the provisions of the Insecticides Act, of 1968. The government would then propose the Centre for a permanent ban of the chemical in Odisha on the basis of scientific opinion from research institutions and other stakeholders.

Notably, Paraquat has no antidote, and when consumed, leads to a painful death.