NGT Orders Probe into Kerala's Endosulfan Scandal: Trace Missing Barrels, Assess Groundwater Contamination

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The National Green Tribunal's Southern Zone in Chennai has ordered the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) to investigate the disappearance of hundreds of barrels of endosulfan, a toxic pesticide, that were used for aerial spraying in cashew plantations across Kerala and Karnataka nearly two decades ago. According to the Tribunal, PCK must submit a detailed report by January 9, 2026, detailing the location of the missing barrels, assessing the contamination of groundwater in affected areas, and proposing remedial measures to mitigate the impact of endosulfan exposure. The order was issued in response to a plea filed by human rights activist Ravindranath Shanbhogue, who alleged that PCK had engaged in illegal and unscientific dumping of endosulfan in abandoned wells within its plantations. The contamination, Shanbhogue claimed, had seeped into the groundwater, affecting residents in villages across both states. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had conducted multiple inspections, and its latest report from July 16, 2025, revealed that only 69 barrels of endosulfan remained, with the authorities recommending their disposal through incineration. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board informed the Tribunal that the levels of Alpha and Beta endosulfan had fallen below detectable limits in recent sampling. However, Shanbhogue disputed this claim, arguing that the sampling was superficial and the wrong distances were used. The Tribunal has directed PCK to examine all relevant reports, including those from the Kerala SPCB and CPCB, and to undertake a comprehensive study to address the issues raised by Shanbhogue. The Corporation has been asked to bear all expenses associated with the investigation and remediation efforts. The Tribunal has also directed the Kerala state pollution control board and CPCB to supervise the analysis and permitted them to engage external experts. The CPCB's latest report revealed that PCK had statutory sanctions for spraying endosulfan but failed to produce records for 258 barrels of the pesticide. The spraying took place in Kasaragod and across plantations in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada, and the CPCB has reported widespread illness linked to endosulfan exposure in Karnataka.