Members of various organisations have urged the District Collector, Archana Patnaik, to ban the illegal sale of cow dung powder in the district.

In a petition, the coordinator of the Imaigal Trust, Imaigal Social Welfare Organisation and Makkal Maiyam, P. Govindharaj said despite the State wide ban on cow dung powder, it was being sold in the district illegally.

“The number of suicide cases in Coimbatore has doubled and cow dung powder is one of the main poisoning substance people consume to kill themselves as it is easily available,” he said and added that people from rural areas consumed it by mixing it with liquor.

“The district administration should ensure that the powder is sold no more so that people’s lives are saved,” he said.