Environment and Forests Minister, Jairam Ramesh has said that a final decision on introduction of BT Brinjal for commercial cultivation will be taken by the 10th of this month. <br/><br/>The Minister said, the final decision will be taken after taking into consideration all shades of opinion.<br/><br/>Addressing a public hearing held at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad on Sunday, he said the debate over the BT Brinjal has been highly polarised.<br/><br/>Mr Ramesh said, those who were favouring BT Brinjal are accused of being agents of Multi National Companies and those who were opposing were alleged to be anti-technologists.<br/><br/>He appealed to all sections to express their opinions in a democratic and restrained manner. He also said majority of the Chief Ministers in the Country have opposed BT Brinjal.<br/><br/>AIR Correspondent reports, the public hearing held in Hyderabad is the 6th in the series being held across the country.<br/><br/>Before taking a final decision by 10th of February whether to introduce the BT Brinjal for commercial cultivation, the Minister will hold the last public hearing in the series in Bangalore on 6th February.<br/><br/>Refuting all allegations the Minister has made it clear that he would take an independent decision over introduction of BT Brinjal after due consideration of opinions from all sections.<br/><br/>Stating that it would be difficult to take a decision which would be acceptable to every one, as the public opinion on the matter has been highly polarised.<br/><br/>Speaking to reporters about various issues relating to BT Brinjal, the Minister said he wrote to all Chief Ministers and well known Scientists seeking their opinion and added that most of the Chief Ministers have opposed introduction of BT Brinjal.<br/><br/>The Minister has opined that an independent Regulator should be set up in the Agriculture sector to tackle issues relating to genetically modified crops. Unlike in other places, the public hearing has witnessed wide protests.<br/><br/>In Kerala, protest against the move to introduce genetically modified Brinjal is fast gaining momentum.<br/><br/>Kerala Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has written to Union Environment & Forest Minister to hold a public consultation in Kerala as well, before taking any decision to launch Bt. Brinjal.<br/><br/>The state will be sending a team comprising of environmentalists and scientists to Bangalore for the forthcoming consultation next week.<br/><br/>For the first time in Kerala, the state Government, environmentalists, scientists and farmers have come together against genetically modified crops. They say that introduction of Bt. Brinjal will be against farmers and the rich biodiversity of Kerala. <br/><br/>The capital city of Thiruvananthapuram witnessed participation of eminent persons in a hunger strike held on Sunday against genetically modified crops.<br/><br/>They have planned a high level convention in Kochi against bt. Brinjal.<br/><br/>Experts point out that introduction of Bt.brinjal can lead to destruction of two thousand varietes of indigenous Brinjal. Eminent agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan has already expressed concerns on introduction of genetically modified crops.<br/>