The recent controversy about the analysis of pesticides contamination in the Cola drinks has once again brought the issue concerning the use of pesticides into a national debate.
Many Indians believe that analytical results of objectionable level of pesticides content in the Cola is true and real and Cola Companies are guilty of not taking adequate precaution in maintaining the expected standards in the purity and content of the Cola drinks. The very fact that the issue became subject of national debate within hours of the environmental laboratory announcing its results is only due to the fact that it confirmed the suspicion of the public who reacted with considerable speed and anxiety.
As usual, western based Cola companies would argue about their excellent laboratory facilities adhering to international norms and use of sophisticated plant and machinery. Such details would not by themselves be enough to convince the common men and public. Obviously, many in the country think that the Indian lives and health care have been taken for granted.
The real issue is that the ground water in the country is largely contaminated due to indiscriminate use of pesticides, poor disposal practices of waste sludge and effluents by the industrial and economic establishments as well as the households. Everyone is trying to push the waste and effluents out of their premises often untreated and sometimes inadequately treated and mother earth is left with no alternative other than absorbing such materials and chemicals, invariably contaminating the ground water and posing hazards to public life.
Cola drinks are largely made up of water and contaminated ground water contaminate the Cola drinks. Obviously, Cola units inspite of their tall claims about adhering to strict standards have ignored or compromised with standards for the sake of maintaining the production level and meeting the large demand created by huge advertisement efforts.
Cola companies can well argue that they are not responsible for the contamination in the ground water but they are certainly responsible for using it without resorting to the alternate option of stopping the production in the absence of adequate quality of water.
Going to the deeper issue, should be use of pesticides continue or not in this country at the present level?
The argument of the pesticide manufacturers are that the large scale use of pesticides are necessary to maintain agricultural production and productivity as otherwise the pests would destroy atleast 50 percent of the potential crop production in the country. This argument has silenced the critics in the past effectively, who continue to tolerate the use of pesticides as unavoidable evil.
The need is that the government, toxicological laboratories and agricultural agencies should apply their mind a little more and decide to do away at least the highly toxic pesticides effectively such as Lindane, Methomyl etc which are very toxic and whose residual toxicity is a serious problem.
Greater research efforts have to be introduced to develop natural pesticides and also find out whether the use of synthetic pyrethroids can be brought down at least in the case of those crops which do not form part of life line of the country.
The methods of spraying pesticides should also be looked into.
Further, policy decision has to be taken that the pesticides banned in the highly developed countries like USA should be immediately kept under observation and review in India.
The large scale and indiscriminate use of pesticides is the direct cause of pesticides contamination in sub soil, crops and agricultural products and it is necessary to clearly demarcate the level beyond which pesticides should not be used.
For example, in the case of Coal drinks, if the units cannot get uncontaminated ground water, the production of cola drinks should be stopped or reduced to the extent necessary. Nothing would happen if there would be less Cola drinks available in the country, though it would disturb a few multi national companies and their advocates.
Strict enforcement of regulation relating to pesticides industry is absolutely necessary both in the production and usage stage.
Today, surprisingly, despite their lasting effect and the recent public outcry, a large number of pesticides and insecticides are available in the market under familiar brand names, though their use is illegal and the after effect could be undesirable.
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