Patna, March 14: Chief minister Nitish Kumar has suggested the Centre to consider the view of the state before allowing any private party to conduct research trial of genetically modified crops in Bihar.

In a letter to Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, Nitish said: “The social acceptability of BT crops in the farming community continues to be an issue. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), authorised to grant the approval of activities involving large scale use of hazardous micro organisms and recombinants in research and industrial production of BT crops, does not have any representation from the state government though their interests are involved.” Thanking Ramesh for terminating field trial of BT maize in Bihar, he described the series of events in the episode unfortunate.

The GEAC communicated its decision to Monsanto India Ltd on conducting trial of BT maize crop in Bihar on December 21 last year and marked its copy to various officials of the state government, which was never received, Nitish noted.

He said Monsanto India Ltd had informed the state about trials on February 24. However, the trial crops were laid on February 22 without giving any information to the state.