CM bans BT Brinjal in U’khand

Dehradun: Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today declared that cultivation of BT Brinjal, a genetically modified cultivar of Brinjal would not be allowed in Uttarakhand. He also appealed to the Centre to not to allow cultivation of BT Brinjal in the country.
Nishank today noted that the issue of Genetically modified food crops had been contentious and the controversy had been going on this respect for more than a decade now. No concrete conclusion could be reached so far that genetically modified food crops were safe for human consumption. For this reason, majority of the nations had not permitted cultivation of GM food crops in own land. Serious concerns had been raised in the country in respect of the permission being mulled for cultivation of GM Food Crops in the country. Mutually contradictory reports were being received in respect of BT Cotton crops in the country and there had been complaints regarding some allergies having been caused even when it was not a food crop.
The CM also noted that so far not enough independent scientific studies had been conducted in the country that could conclude that consumption of BT Brinjal was safe. He also noted that more than 2,500 cultivars of Brinjal that were cultivated in India. In case, GM Brinjal was permitted, this bio-diversity could by lost. Supreme Court Observers too had appealed to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) not to accord sanction to GM food crops in a hurry. There were safer and better ways to deal with the diseases and pests that usually affected the brinjal crops in the country and hence BT Brinjal was not necessary.