Faridkot administration bans spray on jamun trees

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, June 28

Days after mysterious death of a large number of birds, including parrots, in the town, the district administration today banned the use of poisonous substance as insecticides on jamun (java plum) trees.

The birds have been feared to have died due to use of banned and highly poisonous substances on jamun trees.

The birds were found falling off the trees on the premises of the mini-secretariat and district courts here a few days ago. Sources said the birds died after eating jamun sprayed with poison.

Faridkot has thousand-odd jamun trees in and around various government offices and buildings. The trees are given out on contract every year and the contractors transport the fruit to Delhi.

It is alleged contractors’ employees generally use monocrotophos, an organophosphate insecticide, on the trees. The insecticide is banned in India as it is acutely toxic for birds and human.

However, for its low price and easy availability in the market, the poison is sprayed on the fruit to make it ripe quickly, said members of SEER (Society for Ecological and Environmental Resources), a voluntary organisation here.

“Every year, thousands of birds fall prey to insecticides in the orchards here and expose consumers to risk as well,” said Karamjit Singh, an office-bearer of the organisation. “Contractors fetch a good price for the fruit in metro cities because its kernel is good for treatment of diabetes,” said Sandeep Arora, convener, SEER.

Gurjit Singh, additional district magistrate, said orders to ban the use of dangerous insecticides were issued today and violators would be punished as per law.

Deadly poison

• Contractors’ staff often use monocrotophos, an organophosphate insecticide, spray on trees. It is banned in India as it is toxic for birds and humans
• However, for its low price and easy availability in the market, the poison is sprayed on the fruit to make it ripe quickly