Telangana government has imposed a 60-day ban on the sale, stocking, distribution, manufacture and use of the chemical herbicide 'paraquat' and its derivatives across the State, citing concerns over its adverse impact on human health and animals.
The order, issued by K. Surendra Mohan, Secretary to the Agriculture and Cooperation department on March 31, will come into immediate effect and be published in an extraordinary issue of the Telangana Gazette.
The decision follows feedback and reports from various sources highlighting the harmful effects of paraquat, a widely used herbicide, particularly in the context of public health and farmer safety. Invoking powers under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, the State government said the temporary prohibition was necessary to prevent further risk.
“The sale, stock, distribution, manufacturing and use of Paraquat and its derivatives/formulations is hereby banned in the State of Telangana for a period of sixty days, with immediate effect,” the order stated.
Multiple doctors’ bodies said that the temporary ban would help reduce the burden on emergency and critical care services while preventing further poisoning incidents.
