CM Oommen Chandy and VS Achuthanandan talks on relief for endosulfan victims fail

Thiruvananthapuram: The meeting between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan held here on Friday did not make any headway in resolving the issues connected with the distribution of compensation to the victims of aerial spraying of endosulfan pesticide in Kasargod.

Mr Achuthanandan met the chief minister at his official residence, Cliff House, along with the members of the anti-endosulfan samara samithi, who were on an indefinite dharna before the secretariat.

Another round of talks would be held on February 3 to discuss the demand of the protesters for immediate disbursal of the compensation as directed by the National Human Rights Commission.

The government had prepared a list of 5,837 victims and out of these only 2,818 received a portion of the compensation.

Mr Achuthanandan said that the irresponsible attitude of Mr Chandy and Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan had led to the failure of the talks.

The government claimed that it had disbursed Rs 150.71 crore to the victims and sanctioned Rs 104.40 crore for monthly pension and Rs 46.31 crore for other benefits as per the NHRC recommendation.