Thaindian News

Bangalore, Jan 23 (IANS) Even as the union environment ministry is considering whether or not to allow the cultivation of Bt Brinjal, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Saturday said his state, a major producer of the vegetable, will not allow it as “it will sound the death knell for farmers”.
Yeddyurapppa told reporters on the margins of a function here he had informed the central government that Karnataka would not agree to commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal.

He said there was no agreement at the central government level also on its introduction as ministers were issuing contradictory statements.

Though Yeddyurappa did not name the ministers, he was referring to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh disagreeing with reported statement of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that the central government had no say in the matter as an expert committee’s clearance to this effect was final.

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 consultations on the subject around the country. Bangalore’s turn comes Feb 6.

The Karnataka State Organic Farming Mission has also opposed commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal. The mission will make a presentation to Ramesh during the public consultation.

Groups opposed to Bt Brinjal organised a protest in Bangalore late Friday with a large number of college students dressed in life-sized brinjal costumes distributing brochures to the public in the city centre urging them to attend the public consultation and speak out against Bt Brinjal.

Besides Karnataka, other major brinjal growers are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.