Until now, endosulfan was the scourge of Dakshina Kannada. Now, even as a debate rages over a ban on this chemical pesticide, fresh cases are surfacing in Uttara Kannada district.
At least 10 cases have emerged in Bhatkal. Many organizations are demanding case studies to check whether the people of Belke, Gorate, Yalvadikavur and other villages in Bhatkal have been affected by the excessive use of endosulfan.
The use of this pesticide is said to lead to permanent physical and mental damage in humans. It has been freely used in the cashew belt along Kerala, and the border villages of Bhatkal taluk. Its use over the years has affected over 6,000 people in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Kasaragod in Kerala is also badly hit. Since 1975, the pesticide has been sprayed from helicopters, affecting a larger area.