The activists are also worried about the possible contamination of the local varieties. Though Debraj Naik, Dean of Research in OUAT, dismisses such possibilities saying the trial would be done under strict and isolated conditions, not everyone agrees with it. Since 80 per cent farmers in Orissa who do brinjal cultivation are poor and marginal, any possible contamination of their crop from the Bt crop would ruin them forever. “Once GM crop is released into field, it can’t be taken back and the damage might be irreversible,” agrees a scientist.

State Agriculture Secretary U P Singh says the Naveen Patnaik Government as a matter of principle would not encourage GM crop in Orissa. But even OUAT scientists, who are doing a separate trial of Bt cotton at Bhawanipatna area of Kalahandi for its biosafety, admit that regulating GM crop would be an impossible task.