Leading scientist blames NRIs for piracy of Indian bio-wealth

Lucknow, May 16 (UNI) A leading plant and biotech scientist has charged Non Resident Indians (NRIs) with systematic and long-continuing ''piracy'' of the vast Indian bio-diversity wealth.

''Since, NRIs knew about the country's flora and natural wealth, several of them smuggled out specimen species abroad and got them patented under their names or sold them,'' Dr Jitendra Prakash, president of Bangalore-based In Vitro International, working in biotech research, told UNI here.

However, he also equally blamed the weak biotech security infrastructure in the country for the prevailing malaise.

''We have been taking our bio-diversity wealth for granted, that has only helped vested interests to capitalise on the situation,'' Dr Prakash, here to participate in the seminar on 'Floriculture: Biotechnology&Business' at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), added.

He asserted that not only NRIs, but there were several instances when foreign tourists simply plucked plant species from Indian forests and took them back to their countries, where they patented them.

''This has been on for several decades and the damage is yet to be ascertained both in terms of monetary and bio-diversity loss,'' he said.

Dr Prakash also said that a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) in a 'patentable format' has been set-up by the central government, which was available in five languages.

''This is aimed at helping keep track of our bio-diversity and prevent illegal and unauthorised patenting of plant species,'' he explained.

Giving the recent examples of 'basmati' rice, for which India had to fight a foreign company over its patent, Dr Prakash asserted unless the country took pro-active steps to protect bio-diversity and forest wealth, such activities would continue on the sly.

NBRI director Rakesh Tuli stressed upon the urgent need to implement the Plant Variety Protection and Farmers Rights Bill in this regard.

''The world over, biotech is the new buzzword among agriculture scientists. It is not only vital to protect our natural wealth, but imperative for maintaining food security of the country,'' he emphasised.

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