Ramesh 'disagrees completely' with Pawar over Bt Brinjal

New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh Thursday took on Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar over permitting commercial cultivation of genetically modified brinjal, after Pawar was quoted as saying an expert committee's clearance to this effect was final. Ramesh wrote to Pawar, saying he "completely disagreed" with Pawar's view.

The government's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had cleared Bt Brinjal last October for commercial cultivation, after which the final approval was to be given by the environment ministry. Ramesh is now holding public hearings on the subject around the country. 	 	
Pawar was Wednesday quoted as saying the GEAC approval was final and the central government did not have any say in the issue.	 	
Following this, Ramesh wrote to Pawar Thursday: "I beg to completely disagree with this view, if indeed, the newspaper reports have quoted you accurately."	 	
"GEAC may well be a statutory body but when crucial issues of human safety are involved, the government has every right and has, in fact, a basic responsibility to take the final decision based on the recommendations of the GEAC."	 	
Pointing out that his predecessor T.R. Baalu had approved commercial release of Bt Cotton, Ramesh wrote: "Since Bt Brinjal will be the first genetically modified food crop and since I am very well aware of the concerns that have been raised on this issue, I decided that I will have public consultation in seven cities -- Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Nagpur and Chandigarh."	 	
"I have also written to chief ministers of six important brinjal cultivating states -- West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In addition, I have sought feedback from over 50 top scientists both from India and abroad," Ramesh added.	 	
The environment minister said he would be able to take a "considered view" on the Bt Brinjal issue by Feb 20, after which he would "be sharing my final view with the PM as well as with you and the health minister".	 	
The public hearings that have already taken place have seen opposition to introduction of Bt Brinjal and expressions of fear about its safety, though the head of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the department of biotechnology secretary have said the genetically modified food crop would be safe for humans. 	 	
The governments of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa have announced that they would not introduce Bt Brinjal in their states.	 	
Ramesh wrote to Pawar: "I am sure that you will agree that in a democracy like ours, we have to take decisions that have far-reaching consequences with the greatest degree of caution, with the greatest degree of transparency and after ensuring that all stakeholders have been heard to their satisfaction..."	 	
"I am sure you will agree with me that (sic) when I say that I am personally entitled to take my own time arriving at a decision on what to do with the GEAC recommendations."