Ramesh told HT he has directed the GEAC to probe the issue and submit a report. “I have sought an explanation from GEAC..." the minister said, emphasising on the need to conduct trials as per the requirements of the state governments.
The issue was raked up after GM maize sowed in a farm in Samastipur was destroyed in a “hurried" manner on Monday after it was found that it did not have GEAC permission. The GEAC had approved field trials at two locations in Bihar —Debusarfai and Bhagalpur.
“The GEAC had communicated its decision to Monsanto India Limited on December 12, 2010 and marked a copy to various officials of the state government, which was never received by the department. Monsanto informed the state government about the trials on February 24 but the trial was already laid on February 21 without previous information to the state government," Kumar said. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan and Ashok Mishra, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
