While praising the Telangana government’s decision to ban paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide with no antidote, doctors emphasised that its success depends on strict enforcement, monitoring of supply chains, prevention of illegal sales, and awareness among farmers and local authorities.
A sustained campaign by doctors in Telangana under the banner Doctors Against Paraquat Poison (DAPP) has led to the State Assembly passing a resolution banning the toxic herbicide Paraquat Dichloride. Despite existing restrictions, the chemical was widely available in fertiliser shops, leading to hundreds of deaths annually.
Former MP B Vinod Kumar has urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to ban Paraquat Dichloride, citing rising deaths among farmers. He said many countries have already banned the pesticide and called for urgent preventive action
