NGT moved against ISL matches under floodlight at Rabindra Sarobar

Kolkata, Sep 10: Claiming that holding of ISL matches under floodlights at the Rabindra Sarobar stadium could cause ecological hazard, a petitioner has moved the tiol Green Tribul pleading that the games should not be organised at night without proper environmental monitoring.

The Public Interest Litigation, filed before the eastern zone bench of the tribul by a environmental activist Subhas Datta on Friday, said it was a "a better option to hold the football matches during day hours".

Ponting out that Rabindra Sarobar Lake was part of the tiol Plan for conservation of Aquatic Eco-system NPCA, Datta said the lake area was a "highly eco-sensitive zone with big stretches of water bodies and greeneries all around".

The petitioner made the West Bengal government, the Kolkata Improvement Trust, the Union Environment Ministry, as also the Football Sports Development - that operates the ISL - respondents to the petition.

The Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt Ltd - a consortium established to oversee the administration and operations of ISL franchisee Atletico de Kolkata - and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board,, were also made respondents.

The PIL sought pleaded with the tribul to direct the respondents not to hold or allow holding of ISL Football league matches in Rabindra Sarovar Lake Stadium during night hours "without undergoing environmental monitoring".

Stating that the Rabindra Sarovar Lake area is a highly eco-sensitive zone, it said holding of such mega-event by using flood light system may cause harm and hazards to the environment, flora and fau of the entire area.

"The place, which is a part of the tiol Plan for conservation of Aquatic Eco-system and where indigenous birds, migratory birds, variety of aquatic lives exist, it is a better option not to hold such event there during night hours."

The petition said due to the mega event, several thousand motor vehicles would be parked, and loud public address systems operated and possible use of burning fire-works and fire-crackers would cause "environmental hazards".

The petition would be heard on September 15, Datta said. IANS