Don't kill the goose that lays Golden Egg

I want Cochin Corporation to roll out the plan of spraying weedicides to control undergrowth in vacant plots.

This was in the wake of a recent decision of Cochin Corporation to control undergrowth in vacant plots and road side shrubs by using a toxic weedicide. It came to our notice through councillor – he stated that Cochin Corporation is now with active arms to curb the breeding of mosquitoes. He opined that vacant plots tempt people to dumb wastes and that becomes the breeding centre mosquitoes. He also stated that Cochin corporation decided to buy 250 litres of weedicide to be used in the vacant place to checking mosquito breeding.  This is totally unscientific and has the possibility to seriously affect the local plant and bio diversity of the region. 

Desire of Cochin Corporation to check the breeding of mosquitoes is welcoming but the method they are going to adopt is going to create serious repercussions in the bio diversity chain. Bio diversity is reducing in an alarming rate and many traditional and indigenous species are not in the verge of extinction. Majority of plants found on the roadside and vacant plots in and around the city have high medicinal values. The plants that are often considered as weeds play a significant role in supporting the plant and animal bio diversity of this area. Any step to remove this plant and animal diversity will affect the traditional varieties and especially a large number dragon butterflies. The loss of dragon butterflies, which are insectivores, will result in an increase in mosquito population. In result, application of weedicide to curb mosquitoes only helps increase the pest population. Butterflies and other insects, which play an important role in pollination, would also be affected by weedicide. The thick bushes found in the city house a good number of small animals and birds too. Birds such as red spur fowl and animals sucha palm civet, Malabar civet, mongoose and black napped here may be found in these bushes. Many resident and migratory bird species used the areas as breeding grounds, which would be lost if weedicide was applied. Possibility of harm to domestic animals especially cows and goats graze in these areas cannot be ignored. Hence we vehemently request corporation to take a decision after required debates and deliberations with experts.

Cochin Natural Histroy Society (CNHS) is one of the prominent environmental activist group in this area. Dr. B . Sreekumar from Nature Society is an authority in this subject. After a preliminary discussion we will bring this issue in to attention of Corporation. In between we plan to give a press release on the issue to seek public attention on this matter. Additionally, GLIIN is on the way to hold a green activist forum to discuss on the issue. Also we will approach the Kerala State Bio Diversity Board against the move of the Cochin Corporation. If they plan to proceed with the same, we firmly request them to take series of safety measures also need to be taken.