SABARIMALA/ KOCHI: Aravana worth Rs 6.5 crore has become wasted in Sabarimala after the presence of cardamom containing an excessive amount of pesticides was confirmed. The High Court immediately stopped the distribution of aravana on the basis of the chemical test results which showed the presence of 95 types of pesticides in the cardamom used in aravana. Six and a half lakh tins of aravana were in stock for supply. A division bench consisting of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice PG Ajit Kumar instructed the immediate implementation of the directive.

Seven tonnes of cardamom were bought this time for Rs 10.9 lakh without open tender. The production of aravana without cardamom started last night. It will be ready for distribution in eight hours. Cardamom-less aravana will be available over the counter from today morning. Two and a half lakh tins of aravana can be prepared simultaneously. An average of three lakh tins are sold in a day.

The sale of aravana was stopped at 5 pm yesterday. Thousands of pilgrims descended the mountain without getting Aravana.

According to the devaswom board, only 750 grammes of cardamom are used in a 350-kilogramme batch of aravana, which also contains rice and jaggery. Cardamom makes only just 0.20 percent of the ingredients overall, according to this. The board also pointed out that aravana is not harmful as it is prepared at a temperature above 200 degrees. The court, however, did not accept these arguments.

The petition was adjourned for consideration after two weeks after the central and state governments sought two weeks' time to file reply affidavits. It was the former contractor who approached the High Court against the move abandoning the open tender and making local purchases this time.

With just two days left for Makaravilakku, there is a huge rush at Sabarimala.

95 Pesticides?

1. Cardamom is procured from several farms. Every farmer uses different pesticides. Each farmer uses pesticides about 10 times. With this, the number of pesticides increased to 95.
2. Hazardous presence of pesticides such as fipronil, tebuconazole and imidacloprid was first detected. The presence of 95 pesticides was identified in a detailed test.
3. According to a report from the Kochi lab of the Spices Board, there are unsafe amounts of 14 pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, fipronil, tebuconazole, and imidacloprid in the cardamom used in aravana.
4. Central Food Safety Authority Executive Director Inoshi Sharma explained in court yesterday that cardamom is not safe under the Food Safety Act.