After Anil Dave's death, Harsh Vardhan gets additional charge of Environment Ministry

The environment ministry has been in the news after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, gave a recommendation last week for the cultivation of GM Mustard.

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan was, Thursday, given an additional charge of the Environment Ministry after the death of Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. He was 60. According to official sources, Dave had not been keeping well for the last few months. He complained of uneasiness at his home this morning and was rushed to AIIMS where he passed away. Also, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the country following the death of Dave.

Dave was born on 6 July 1956 in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. He did his M. Com at Gujarati College in Indore.

He joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and was working for conservation of the Narmada River. He was a Member of Parliament, representing Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha since 2009.

The environment ministry has been in the news after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee gave a recommendation last week for the commercial cultivation of GM Mustard.

The GEAC, a body of the ministry that evaluates genetically modified crops, had on 11 May recommended the commercial use of GM mustard. The environment ministry had received over 700 comments from various stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, on the Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety report on GM mustard.

The application was submitted in 2015 after which several rounds of meeting were held by the GEAC. GM mustard is the second genetically modified food crop after Bt Brinjal that has obtained all required regulatory approvals and reached the environment minister's table for clearance.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took to Twitter and offered his condolonces after the demise Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. Modi said,''I was with Anil Madhav Dave ji till late last evening, discussing key policy issues. This demise is a personal loss.''

He further said that Anil Madhav Dave ji will be remembered as a devoted public servant. He was tremendously passionate towards conserving the environment.

Also, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed shock over the demise Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave.

He said,''Shocked and extremely sad to know the sudden demise of my colleague Sri Anil Madhav Dave , Environment Minister. My heartfelt condolences.''

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