Expand CNG area: Green tribunal

Calcutta: The National Green Tribunal ordered the Bengal government on Thursday to allow the supply of the environment-friendly compressed natural gas to major parts of the Calcutta Metropolitan Area (CMA) and not just the area under the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.

CMA comprises the area under the Calcutta civic body as well as urban centres in adjacent districts.

Metro had on April 11 reported that the state had filed an affidavit before the eastern zonal bench of the tribunal stating it had allowed the "area of operation within Calcutta Municipal Corporation only". The state was referring to the area of operation of the proposed joint venture between GAIL, a central organisation, and Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation (GCGSC), a Bengal government agency.

The joint venture will be in charge of supplying the green fuel.

The bench directed both agencies to finalise the agreement to supply the gas to major parts of the Calcutta Metropolitan Area within three days.

"The bench pointed out that the pollution level in Howrah city was no less than that of the CMC area and the logic of the state to restrict the supply of the fuel to the CMC area is not tenable," said environment activist Subhas Dutta, the petitioner in the case.