Paraquat Ban in Telangana: Why the Weedicide Is So Lethal
Why in the news
Telangana prohibited the highly poisonous weedicide Paraquat by Government Order, citing a rise in fatal poisoning and accidental ingestion among farmers and rural families.
Key facts
- Scope of ban: sale, distribution, manufacture and use.
- Paraquat: fast-acting, non-selective contact herbicide that kills any green tissue; sold under the brand name Gramoxone.
- Pure Paraquat is colourless, odourless and nearly tasteless.
- Banned in 74 countries; no national ban in India.
Toxicity profile
- Produces reactive oxygen species (superoxides) in plant cells, damaging membranes and drying weeds within hours; humans suffer similar irreversible oxidative damage.
- No antidote, unlike snakebite or organophosphate poisoning.
- Even a small sip burns the mouth and throat (“Paraquat mouth”); it then harms kidneys and liver and builds up in lungs, causing irreversible pulmonary fibrosis.
- A ventilator may speed oxidative damage and worsen multi-organ failure.
- Death rate after ingestion is often above 50% even with prompt care.
- Risks are heightened because it may be mistaken for a soft drink in unlabelled bottles, is lethal in about a teaspoon, is used for self-harm in rural areas, and can expose children and animals.
Pesticide regulation in India
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Insecticides Act, 1968 | Principal law regulating pesticides |
| CIB&RC | Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee; handles registration |
| Pesticides Management Bill, 2020 | Proposed replacement, still pending |
| Anupam Verma Committee (2015) | Reviewed 66 pesticides; 18 banned, 6 to be phased out by 2020 |
Bans elsewhere
- DDT banned for farm use but allowed for public health; Endosulfan banned in 2011 by the Supreme Court.
- Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Punjab have imposed state-level restrictions on certain pesticides.
- Other highly hazardous pesticides: Monocrotophos, Phorate, Methyl Parathion, Triazophos, Carbofuran, many on WHO’s hazardous list.
Why states can act
- Farming sits in the State List, whereas rules on poisons and dangerous drugs fall under the Concurrent List.
- Under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, states may impose temporary bans of up to 60 days, which the Centre can extend to 90 days.
- Permanent bans need central action.
Alternatives
- Bio-herbicides (microbial or plant-based).
- Crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, manual and mechanical weeding.
- Integrated Weed Management combining chemical, biological and cultural methods.
- Natural and organic farming; glyphosate is less toxic to humans yet controversial.
Exam angle
- Law: Insecticides Act, 1968; regulator: CIB&RC.
- Brand name: Gramoxone; global bans: 74 countries.
- Committee: Anupam Verma (2015).