Disaster waiting to happen

Sir— This refers to the article, "Mystery behind Yavatmal farmers' deaths" (October 27) by Garima Maheshwari. The experience of Bt cotton cultivation has shown that the so-called advanced GM crops has only increased the use of pesticides, contrary to the initial claims. Besides, the neonicotinoid pesticides used to treat GM seeds (before the pre-planting stage) are decimating bees.  

It was for highlighting the deleterious impact of pesticides like DDT that Rachel Carson globally shot to fame in the 1960s through her seminal book Silent Spring. The title of the book signified the typical silence during the spring season in USA, when an otherwise vernal chirping of birds was becoming less due to the disappearance of birds caused by the harm from indiscriminate use of pesticides. Don't we know how Bhopal (MP), Bathinda (Punjab), Kasargod (Kerala) have fallen prey to these chemical agriinputsIJ Probably, there are many more disasters waiting to happen. It is high time the menace is proactively tackled, so we can leave a truly healthy future to future generations.