The human cost of a deadly weed killer: banning of paraqua in Telangana

The article highlights the severe human cost of paraquat, a highly toxic weed killer, through a personal account of poisoning and the subsequent ban imposed by Telangana, Kerala, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. It delves into the regulatory challenges in India, including the limitations of the Insecticides Act, 1968, the lack of a central ban, and India's stance on the Rotterdam Convention. The piece also discusses the economic reasons for paraquat's widespread use in agriculture, the lobbying efforts by doctors and activists for a nationwide ban, and the difficulties in enforcing state-level prohibitions due to online sales and industry resistance.