Nagpur: Incidents of pink bollworm attack on Bt cotton this year again have alarmed the agriculture authorities. The state agriculture commissioner has taken up the matter with the Union government and has even suggested reconsideration of approval given to genetically modified Bt cotton seeds that are supposed to be resistant to bollworm and other infestations.The chief of Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission (the state government task force to deal with farm distress) Kishore Tiwari has claimed this year the situation could be worse as it is found that the Bt cotton seeds were now susceptible to attack of not only pink worm, but also thips , mealybug and regular bollworm. With over 40 lakh hectares under cotton cultivation, Maharashtra has largest area of cotton crop in the country.The state agriculture commissioner S Kendrekar is believed to have apprised deputy director (quality control) of Union agriculture ministry on August 1 about the situation. According to him, last year too incidents of pink worm attacks were reported and confirmed by various government agencies and experts of city-based Central Institute of Cotton Research. Following that, ban was imposed on seeds of one company that had licence from Monsanto, the multinational that pioneered and introduced genetically altered Bt Cotton seeds under brand names BG I and later BG II.Director of National Research Centre for Citrus M S Ladhaniya, currently holding additional charge of CICR, told TOI that though incidents of worm attacks have been reported, the crop situation is not worrisome yet. “We have issued advisories time to time to farmers to tackle the situation. It is too early to say cotton crop is under threat,” he added. If the picking is delayed up to December, the conditions become conducive for such pest attacks on BT cotton.An officer in the joint divisional director of agriculture here admitted pink worm attacks were being reported but said they were yet to ascertain its extent. An official meeting is scheduled on Wednesday to review the situation and suggest measures to save crop from imminent attack.The state agriculture commissioner has been seeking Centre’s guidance on Bt seeds from May even before the start of the Kharif season. He has suggested that since Bt cotton, which comprises 96% of state’s cotton crop, is now vulnerable to pest attack, prices of BG II be regulated. Currently it is selling at Rs 750 a pack and the state wants the rate cut to Rs 200 per pack of 450 gms at which straight desi sells.Shrikant Deshpande, a farmer from Mangrul-Dastgir in Dhamangaon Rly tehsil of Amravati district, said long dry spells could be the reason behind pink worm attacks just after flowering.and before the cotton bolls actually develop. “I have been spraying chemicals every fortnight to ward off the insects and this involves extra costs.” the farmer rued.