Modi government may pride itself in taking quick decisions, and even unpopular ones. But there is one decision on which the government has been facing the same policy paralysis that it criticised its predecessor with.
The government is in no hurry to take a decision on GM mustard. “It is a complicated issue, there are enough scientists for it and as many against it. This is not a decision I can take in a hurry,'' said Union minister Harsh Vardhan. The minister holds a double portfolio—science and technology as well as the recently acquired environment, forests and climate change after the death of Anil Dave.
The science and technology ministry had been pushing for clearing GM mustard for use in farms. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), in May, in a submission to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) had given a positive recommendation, with certain conditions. A parliamentary committee on environment, science and technology however, recommended a thorough examination of the crop's impact on environmental and health issues relating to humans and animals. It noted the absence of credible studies and asked the environment ministry not to introduce the crop without evaluating long term effects and biosafety aspects.
There is a big lobby of activists who are against genetically modified crops, citing several reasons from loss of heirloom seed lines to unknown future safety concerns. They also point towards such technology making agriculture reliant on big seed companies, leading to farm debts and resultant suicides.
Genetically modified cotton is in use in India. The modification by introducing an alien gene makes the crop resistant to regular pests. Food crops, however, are a different matter. There has been a moratorium on Bt brinjal for a decade now. No government is willing to take a decision, it is a politically fraught subject.
Although agriculture is a state subject, these environment clearances need Central approval.
