Mamata blamed for non-cooperation on Green Tribunal

The opposition Left Front Wednesday blamed non-cooperation of the West Bengal government over the Supreme Court's direction to the centre looking into the desirability of shifting the proposed bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) from Kolkata to Ranchi or Guwahati.

Leader of opposition and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Surjya Kanta Mishra castigated the Mamata Banerjee regime after the apex court Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the "thorough non-cooperation" of the West Bengal government in setting up an NGT bench in Kolkata.

"Due to the efforts of the Left, it was decided that the bench would be set up here. But it is unfortunate that the SC is exploring avenues of setting up the bench elsewhere due to the non-cooperation of the state government," Mishra told mediapersons here.

"The SC unequivocally mentioned the state government's non-cooperation as the reason behind its decision. We strongly condemn this attitude of the government and urge it to discuss with the centre to ensure that the bench is set up in Kolkata only," added Mishra.

"We are of the view that the West Bengal government has been thoroughly non-cooperative for the last more than a year for the establishment of the bench of NGT," an apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya had said.

Environmentalist Subhas Dutta, on whose petition the Supreme Court had led to the order of setting up the proposed NGT bench in Kolkata, expressed his anguish over the issue.

"The SC has directed the centre to look into the desirability of shifting the bench to Ranchi or Guwahati. It is very unfortunate. Kolkata is best suited for the bench and if it is shifted, it's very purpose would be defeated," said Dutta.

With the apex court fixed hearing the matter July 16, Dutta hoped the state government would try to ensure the bench is not transferred.

"The court has blamed the state government so now it is its duty to rectify the mistake and ensure that the bench is set up here and not any other place," added Dutta.