Green commitment: Netas duck hard queries on people’s manifesto

KOLKATA:In the symposium titled Paribesh Jeno Hariye Na Jai (let’s not lose environment in the electoral discourse), on the occasion of the release of the ‘Green Manifesto’, political parties either appeared too globally concerned, missing out on the environmental issues at home, or said not to expect much from politicians unless the movement becomes potent.

Earlier, Sabuj Mancha, an umbrella organisation for green activists and NGOs, raised questions on the green commitments of the ruling political parties in the state and Centre while releasing the Green Manifesto called ‘Voter ’24 e 15 Dafa (in the vote of ’24 15-point green agenda)’. “The environment comes almost in all manifestos, like a footnote at the end. It is more customary than genuine, too pompous to be true,” said Naba Dutta, general secretary, Sabuj Mancha.

BJP’s Shamik Bhattacharya said, “Don’t expect too much from politicians on green issues. If the Green Movement has its true popular appeal and the backing of people, as politicians we will reach there before you to clean up a chair to occupy it.” He also said that he would expect less generous NGT judges than they are right now. “They are too generous to overlook the follies we (politicians) commit.”

CPM’s Chayan Bhattacharya, CPI and ISF praised the initiative, but they were too global in their concerns, when politics has become hyperlocal. They condemned the arrest of Greta Thunberg and the failure of Paris Agreement treaties. RSP’s Debasish Mukherjee’s words on the green commitment of his party proved hollow, when Tuhin Shubtra Modal, who has been relentless in his fight for the revival of north Bengal’s river Atreyee, said, “RSP did not support us, despite approaching them repeatedly.”

The 15-point green manifesto raised crucial questions on how green laws are bypassed in the name of ease of doing business, causing irreversible damage to the environment at the national and state levels. The Green Manifesto demanded probe in the close relations between environmental waivers and electoral bonds. It also asked for a uniform Himalayas conservation policy, a corruption-free clean Ganga initiative, plastic and biomedical waste management.

The manifesto highlighted the concerns of Kolkata, including stopping water body fill-up and reduction of air pollution.

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