Many argue that Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was playing to the gallery when he banned the commercial use of Bt brinjal since the scientists’ panel that was asked to study it had come to the conclusion that the plant was safe. This is far from the truth. As was brought out by Kalpana Jain (“Experts unsure of long-term health costs of Bt brinjal”, February 3), the experts were not unequivocal about the health costs, saying that present science didn’t allow them to know for certain. The experts then talked of continuous surveillance. Anyone who is familiar with the Indian situation knows this will not work. Once Bt brinjal is allowed, it will spread among farmers very fast (as did Bt cotton) and so, even if there is a recall, it will be irrelevant. Ramesh has taken the right step.
Satish Gupta, New Delhi
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