Shishir Arya & Ramu BhagwatShishir Arya & Ramu Bhagwat,TNN | Jun 9, 2015, 03.06 AM IST
NAGPUR: Just a few days before five private parties were to go ahead with field trials of genetically modified (GM) rice and chickpea (kabuli chana), the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government in state has put it on hold. The orders were abruptly issued on May 21. The companies had got the go-ahead from the government in January this year and were set to begin trials during the current monsoon.
The note, signed by additional chief secretary (agriculture) SK Goel, reads, "State government has received objections from various institutions and reputed members of the society against the clearance given by state government to confined field trials of transgenic crops."
Reliable sources linked with the development say the 'institutions and members of the society' referred in the letter are the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM). The SJM was always been against GM food crops on the grounds that it was a bio-safety hazard and also endangers local varieties.
The state government's order adds that it has decided to put all objections before the expert committee on GM crops. "The research will not be started till such objections are reviewed, and a report is submitted to the government," it reads.
Fadnavis told TOI that the issues were raised by a parliament committee and other forums of United Nations. "The state has not cancelled the trials. We have asked the private companies to submit the safeguards against cross pollination and some other issues. Till then they can't conduct trials," he said.
Goel, on the other hand, said, "Those who raised objections are certain individuals and organizations. Their list was submitted to the agriculture commissioner." But he could not recall the names.
After the centre gave a general approval for trials on GM crops, it had left the final decision to the states. Maharashtra gave the go-ahead to five companies in January this year.
The sowing of the GM trial seeds was expected to start with the onset of monsoon. Sources say if the trials are suspended now, there are chances that the kharif season may be lost and push back the experiments for a year.
The monsoons are round the corner and it is apprehended that review process may last well beyond the rainy season, said the source. "Such a decision has not happened earlier. In normal course, all the objections are considered before a final go-ahead is given. Once approval is given there should have been no interruption," he added.
The SJM has been against GM crops since the UPA days. After BJP took over power in the state, the matter was taken up with Fadnavis through RSS channels, which led to the suspension.
Ajay Patki of Swadeshi Jagran Manch welcomed the decision. "We had raised objections with the former environment minister Jairam Ramesh too and continued with the stand after BJP came in. However, I cannot confirm if the trials have been stopped because of our insistence," he said.
The objections will now be reviewed by a state committee on GM crops headed by former chairman of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Anil Kakodkar. The committee was set up by the Congress-NCP Democratic Front government in 2012.
The private companies which had applied for trails were Maharashtra Hybrid Company (Mahyco), Pioneer Oversis Corporation, BASF India Limited Devgen Seeds Corporation and Sungro Seeds Limited. Together the five were to put 250 GM varieties on trial.
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/To-please-saffron-brigade-state-suspends-GM-crop-trials/articleshow/47592033.cms
NAGPUR: Just a few days before five private parties were to go ahead with field trials of genetically modified (GM) rice and chickpea (kabuli chana), the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government in state has put it on hold. The orders were abruptly issued on May 21. The companies had got the go-ahead from the government in January this year and were set to begin trials during the current monsoon.
The note, signed by additional chief secretary (agriculture) SK Goel, reads, "State government has received objections from various institutions and reputed members of the society against the clearance given by state government to confined field trials of transgenic crops."
Reliable sources linked with the development say the 'institutions and members of the society' referred in the letter are the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM). The SJM was always been against GM food crops on the grounds that it was a bio-safety hazard and also endangers local varieties.
The state government's order adds that it has decided to put all objections before the expert committee on GM crops. "The research will not be started till such objections are reviewed, and a report is submitted to the government," it reads.
Fadnavis told TOI that the issues were raised by a parliament committee and other forums of United Nations. "The state has not cancelled the trials. We have asked the private companies to submit the safeguards against cross pollination and some other issues. Till then they can't conduct trials," he said.
Goel, on the other hand, said, "Those who raised objections are certain individuals and organizations. Their list was submitted to the agriculture commissioner." But he could not recall the names.
After the centre gave a general approval for trials on GM crops, it had left the final decision to the states. Maharashtra gave the go-ahead to five companies in January this year.
The sowing of the GM trial seeds was expected to start with the onset of monsoon. Sources say if the trials are suspended now, there are chances that the kharif season may be lost and push back the experiments for a year.
The monsoons are round the corner and it is apprehended that review process may last well beyond the rainy season, said the source. "Such a decision has not happened earlier. In normal course, all the objections are considered before a final go-ahead is given. Once approval is given there should have been no interruption," he added.
The SJM has been against GM crops since the UPA days. After BJP took over power in the state, the matter was taken up with Fadnavis through RSS channels, which led to the suspension.
Ajay Patki of Swadeshi Jagran Manch welcomed the decision. "We had raised objections with the former environment minister Jairam Ramesh too and continued with the stand after BJP came in. However, I cannot confirm if the trials have been stopped because of our insistence," he said.
The objections will now be reviewed by a state committee on GM crops headed by former chairman of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Anil Kakodkar. The committee was set up by the Congress-NCP Democratic Front government in 2012.
The private companies which had applied for trails were Maharashtra Hybrid Company (Mahyco), Pioneer Oversis Corporation, BASF India Limited Devgen Seeds Corporation and Sungro Seeds Limited. Together the five were to put 250 GM varieties on trial.
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/To-please-saffron-brigade-state-suspends-GM-crop-trials/articleshow/47592033.cms
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