http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080350360100.htm
Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran says it will harm the
interests of farmers.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has
expressed grave concern over the proposed National Biotechnology
Regulatory Bill.
The Minister said the Bill contained dangerous provisions that would
prevent democratic control over genetic experiments and harm the farmers
and consumers.
Though agriculture was a State subject, the Centre had not asked the
views of the State on the proposed legislation. This was highly
objectionable. The Bill had provisions to take away the powers of the
State government and local self- governments regarding testing and
production of genetically modified crops and impose Central decisions on
the States.
Mr. Ratnakaran noted that moves were afoot to create a single window
system under the Union Department of Biotechnology for clearance of
genetically modified produce. The Parliament and the Assembly would lose
control over the clearances.
The decisions of the National Biodiversity Regulatory Authority proposed
in the Bill would become incontestable.
He recalled that acclaimed scientist P.M. Bhargava had pointed out that
the procedures specified for experimentation of genetically modified
crops were already being disregarded in the country. The proposed Bill
sought to exempt such experiments from the purview of the Seed Bill and
the Environment (Protection) Act. The legislation would abrogate the
rights of farmers and consumers. It did not have any provision banning
experimentation in biodiversity hot spots such as the Western Ghats.
On the other hand, the chairman of the proposed Authority would have
powers to impose his decisions on the State governments. The
proliferation of genetically modified seeds would hurt the rights of the
farmers over seeds. The Bill would negate the State's demand to declare
it as a 'genetically modified seed-free zone'.
