New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh Thursday blamed the Orissa government for pesticide menaces as well as their aftermath, alleging that the state government never bothered to enforce the advisories issued by the Central institutions on the issue time to time.
Addressing a press conference here Friday, Singh said, “The Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, had October 4 and October 5 issued advisory to the state government suggesting ways on how to administer pesticides on paddy. The state government did not share any information with us on the issue of pesticide menace.”
Singh added, “We learnt about the issue from the media. We, through our teams, visited the affected sites and took stock of the situation. We came to know that the CRRI issues such advisories every month, but the state never bothered to enforce the advisories issues by our institutions.”
Singh also informed the media that the minister of state for agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will now visit the worst hit areas of the state like Bargarh and others November 12.
Earlier, Union Minister for Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met the minister and discussed the issue in New Delhi and later addressed a joint press conference at the national capital.
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