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New Delhi, Jun 14: The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has approved 39 new Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in south India and 9 new Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in central India in the current season. Since the apex court order of May 9, partially modifying its earlier ban order on GM crop trials, the GEAC has gone upbeat in making a spate of approvals of Bt cotton for commercial cultivation.
The GEAC in its 76th meeting held on May 11, approved 18 Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in north India and 35 new Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in central India. In its 77th meeting it approved 39 Bt cotton hybrids in south India and 9 Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in central India.
The committee set up a scientific investigation committee headed by the director of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, SPS Ahlawat to examine reports received from NGOs regarding sheep mortality in Warangal and Adilabad districts of Andhra Pradesh due to consumption of Bt cotton leaves. The panel consists of K Somasekhar Reddy, associate dean in the College of Veterinary, Hyderabad, Y Thirupathaiah, joint director of animal husbandry in the Andhra Pradesh government, Chenga Reddy of Cotton Research Station, Guntur and KK Tripathi, advisor in the department of biotechnology.
The GEAC also considered the report received from Andhra Pradesh directorate of animal husbandry which said that Bt cotton samples were analysed in four laboratories for presence of possible toxins and their ill effects on animals. The new panel set up by GEAC will now examine the report of AP directorate of animal husbandry.
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