PALAKKAD: A sample of endosulfan will be tested at the Salim Ali Institute in Hyderabad to assess its chemical combination to determine the kind of technology to be used for detoxifying it.
The sample will be collected on October 12 while transferring the 314 litres of endosulfan existing at the godown at Karimankunnu in Thenkara panchayat to high-density polythene drums. This transfer is considered to be the preliminary step for disposing endosulfan
“On October 12, we will collect the sample for sending it for spectrometry test to determine its chemical composition.
“It will take 15 days for the results and once we get the result, we can invite tenders from various agencies for detoxifying it,” said Dr Muhammad Asheel, nodal officer of Endosulfan Rehabilitation Cell.He also said that the test result is crucial as one cannot fix a technology for neutralising it without knowing its chemical combination. “The test result will show the amount of endodiol, alpha endosulfan, gamma endosulfan etc in the sample and a suitable technology can be fixed in accordance with the result.
Once the tender is sanctioned, we will hand it over to the agency for getting it detoxified outside the State. We will also monitor the procedures the agency follows for detoxifying it,” added Asheel.Dr Muhammad Asheel explained the procedure to be followed for the disposal of endosulfan.
“Two steps have to be followed for the disposal of endosulfan. In the first step, we need to safeguard it by transferring it to high-density polythene drums. In the next, the safe guarded endosulfan has to be detoxified and disposed.
“The endosulfan in high-density polythene drums will be safe for five years,” said Asheel.It was through this operation the 1,600 litres of endosulfan was transferred to high-density polythene drums in Kasargod on June 2012.