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Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan AC’s opening I-League match against Churchill Brothers SC on Sunday, January 8 will have to be shifted from Rabindra Sarobar Stadium to the Barasat Municipal Stadium as per a stay order of the Green Tribunal of Kolkata.
Mohun Bagan in the I-League over the coming months after Atletico de Kolkata in the Indian Super League from October to December 2016 wanted to play their home matches at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium due to the Saltlake Stadium being renovated for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. For the use of the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium as the alternative ATK had put substantial resources into getting the inner city stadium match fit and Mohun Bagan wanted to take advantage of that fact instead of playing at the Barasat Municipal Stadium like their archrivals East Bengal Club.
But the Mohun Bagan management unlike the one from Atletico de Kolkata did not interact and sort out issues with the Green Tribunal of Kolkata, while also not obtaning a ‘No Objection Certificate’ for their I-League evening matches to be held at the stadium under the guidelines laid out by the Tribunal due to which at the ISL matches only the National Anthem and the ISL theme song were played, while further the West Bengal pollution control board and the Kolkata Improvement Trust kept a strict vigil on any activity during the ISL matches that could disturb the environment.
All this is done as the Rabindra Sarobar lake, which lies across the road from the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, is an eco sensitive zone and home of numerous bird species besides other flora and fauna, which the Green Tribunal of Kolkata and National Green Tribunal feel are worth to the safeguarded against large scale events and sports happening in its vicinity.
With this judgement passed for the moment, Mohun Bagan luckily had mentioned Barasat as their alternative home venue and now that will come in handy as they informed the I-League about shifting their home match on Sunday.
Mohun Bagan will appeal to the regular bench of the Calcutta High Court regarding this matter on Monday and hope for a favourable judgement.
