Endosulfan manufacturers seek time on how to dispose of unused stocks of the pesticide

Endosulfan manufacturers have asked the Supreme Court for a four week extension to submit their proposal on how to dispose the unused stock of the pesticide.

The plea was made when the court met on October 10 to decide what needed to be done with the unused stock of endosulfan as well as propose alternative for the pesticide.

The petitioners, Democratic Youth Federation of India, too, will file an affidavit on how they think the stocks should be disposed.

The court had on September 30 allowed exports of nearly 1,100 tonnes of unused endosulfan for which export orders were received. It reiterated its earlier order of May 13, banning the use, sale and production of the pesticide.

The court also restored the registration of the manufacturers, which was cancelled following the order which banned sale, production, manufacture and export of endosulfan. But the restoration of the registration is confined to nearly 1,100 tonnes of endosulfan for which export permission has been given.

The court will now meet on November 11.