U’khand bans Bt brinjal

Feb 05, 2010

Dehra Dun/Bengaluru, Feb. 5: Uttarakhand on Friday became the first state in India to announce a ban on Bt brinjal even before the Centre takes a final decision on introduction of the controversial genetically modified crop.

The hill state also asked the Centre to follow suit while the final consultation as part of the public hearings in seven cities convened by minister of state for environment Jairam Ramesh is due to end in Bengaluru on Saturday.

"Keeping in view the sensitive nature of Uttarakhand and its diversities which have to be protected, we have to remain watchful against crops like Bt brinjal. We have decided to ban the farming of Bt brinjal in the state," chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said in a statement in Dehra Dun. While several states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Kerala, opposed the introduction of Bt brinjal, the CM’s ban announcement is significant as it precedes a Central decision.

Mr Ramesh had earlier said a final decision on commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal would be taken by February 10. —PTI

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