Most chief ministers oppose Bt Brinjan, admits Ramesh

Bangalore, Feb 6 (IANS) Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh admitted Saturday that a majority of chief ministers had come out against the commercialization of Bt Brinjal.

The minister is scheduled to announce his decision Feb 10 in New Delhi on the recommendation of the Genetically Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a statutory authority set up under the Environment Protection Act of 1986. 	 	
"A majority of chief ministers have written to me on the issue have opposed the introduction of Bt brinjal," Ramesh told IANS Saturday after a four-hour brain-storming session on the controversial issue. 	 	
The states which have opposed include West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. 	 	
"I have got response from the major brinjal cultivating states. About 60 percent of brinjal in India is cultivated in West Bengal (30 percent), Orissa (20 percent) and Bihar (10 percent). All these states have opposed its introduction," Ramesh said. 	 	
India produces about eight million tonnes of brinjal per annum in 2,400 varieties. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu account for 20 percent collectively. 	 	
"Though I have not heard officially from Tamil Nadu, its chief secretary told me on phone that his state too was opposed to the commercialisation of Bt Brinjal," the minister said. Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have not yet responded. 	 	
The GEAC made a recommendation Oct 15, 2009 that Bt Brinjal should be commercialised. 	 	
"I am the minister concerned. I have to decide whether we should allow it or not,� he said after a heated debate at a meeting with Karnataka farmers, scientists, doctors, consumers, civil societies and NGOs here. 	 	
Ramesh said he would take a middle path as he was not an extremist by nature. 	 	
Ruling out setting up another committee or going to parliament, Ramesh said his decision would take into consideration the interests of producers (farmers) and consumers. 	 	
"I have to balance the interests of producers and consumers. Of science and society, food security and food safety considerations."	 	
He quoted the prime minister's statement at the Indian Science Congress Jan 3 where Manmohan Singh said that genetic engineering and modification for food security were needed. 	 	
"The prime minister also said that issues of food safety were very, very important," Ramesh said. Admitting that his decision could be challenged in any court of law at any point of time, the minister said he would not like to predict what would happen afterwards.  	 	
"We are a democracy. Anybody can go to any court at any point of time. The file has come to me. I have to take a decision. What happens afterwards, I cannot say," he said. 	 	
Noting that Bt Brinjal was the first food crop awaiting clearance for commercial introduction, the minister agreed that a decision would have, undoubtedly, an implication on other food crops. 	 	
"This is the first Bt vegetable to be introduced anywhere in the world. We have to take all factors into consideration. It will set a precedent because people/scientists have been working on Bt Bhindi (ladyfinger), Bt Tomato. So far, we had only Bt Cotton,� Ramesh added. 	 	
The minister held seven meetings across the country in Kolkata, Bhubeneshwar, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Over 8,000 people participated in these consultative meetings.