Hyderabad, Jan. 31: The minister of state for environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, on Sunday said the final decision on Bt brinjal will be taken on February 10.
Mr Ramesh faced the ire of farmers during a public consultation organised by the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA).
Hyderabad: Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the Centre would soon take a decision on whether to allow commercial cultivation of genetically modified Bt brinjal, even as he was heckled at a meet and asked to go back for failing to protect the interests of farmers.
HYDERABAD: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh faced angry protests at the consultations on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) brinjal at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture here on Sunday.
High-decibel anti-Bt brinjal protests took centrestage for some time at the national consultation session chaired by Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday. Members of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch barged into the jam-packed Law Bhawan hall on Panjab University campus, where the minister was meeting farmers, NGOs, lawyers, doctors and scientists.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On Sunday, at the Martyrs Square in the city, environmentalists, farmers, political and cultural leaders in the State will go on a fast to stop the Ministry of Environment and Forests from giving permission for commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal. The fast will be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran at 10.30 a.m.
CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has said the government will not take any hasty decision on allowing cultivation or sale of Bt Brinjal in the State.
AMID demands from organisations of farmers and environmental activists for a blanket ban on Bt brinjal in Tamil Nadu, the State government on Tuesday virtually imposed a temporary ban on this genetically modified vegetable until a final decision is taken on the matter.
The State government has said a firm no to entry of Bt brinjal. The government has already conveyed this to the Centre.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Saturday, said his government would not allow cultivation of Bt brinjal which would prove death knell for native breeds of brinjal grown in the State.
Hyderabad, Jan. 24: As the Centre goes about building public opinion on introduction of the controversial Bt brinjal, the country does not have the facility to test the toxicity or otherwise of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
