New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Many state governments and scientists Tuesday hailed Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s decision to reject for the time being the commercial release of Bt Brinjal, the genetically modified (GM) form of the common vegetable.
Orissa agriculture minister Damodar Rout thanked the central government for the decision.

“I thank them for taking cognizance of the widespread opposition to Bt Brinjal in India. From the very beginning we opposed it since it was not in the interest of our small and marginal farmers,” Rout told IANS.

Eleven states including Orissa had opposed the introduction of Bt Brinjal earlier. Himchal Pradesh became the 12th Tuesday.

“Since trials on assessing its harmful effects on health and environment have not been conducted so far, we will not allow it in the state unless satisfactory answers to various questions pertaining to the crop are found,” Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said.

Kerala’s state biodiversity chairman V.S. Vijayan called Ramesh’s decision a “big victory”.

Vijayan said: “We are ready to cooperate with any studies because our contention was that no hasty decision should be arrived at.”

Renowned scientist M.S. Swaminathan who ushered in the country’s Green Revolution said it was good that Bt Brinjal was stayed in the absence of adequate tests and public consensus but would not like the decision to be generalised to all GM crops being studied now.

“They (government) should be completely sharing information (from research). After all it’s the public that will consume it (Bt Brinjal) and not the government…in a democratic society, you can’t hide anything. Everything should be transparent with risks and benefits so that people can come to thier own judgement,” Swaminathan said.

“I would not like to generalise. This (GM crops) is a powerful tool and has many advantages. Our ability to determine the risks and benefits will ultimately decide our ability to determine the use of this technology for public good. It’s important to use it carefully,” he added.

But Swatantra Bharat Paksh MP from Maharashtra, Sharad Anantarao Joshi, was unhappy with the moratorium.

“It is an unfortunate decision,” Joshi told IANS. “Blocking technology is not right. I am of the view that biotech is the antidote for global warming. The opponents have a peculiar mindset. These are the people who opposed green revolution, dams, computers and any other technological progress.”