15.06.2007 | permalink
Unfazed by the Centre’s decision to remove cotton from the Essential Commodities Act, the State Government has decided to invoke provisions of the Environment Protection Act to keep a check on Bt Cotton seed manufacturers and suppliers. As the efforts to convince the Centre yet to yield results so far, the Government made an in-depth study of other alternatives and it stumbled upon provisions under the Environment Protection Act that came handy. It decided to invoke the provisions under the EP Act that empowers seed inspectors of the Agriculture Department to inspect, search and seize the genetically modified seed varieties, including the Bt Boll Guard I and II versions.