Subhas Datta

Subhas Datta is an environment activist. He has been for the last 30 years. He is a qualified chartered accountant by profession. Since 1995, Datta has aired the grievances of the masses before the judicial forum through filing Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Subhas Datta's work in environmental activism began in the year 1977, when the tree plantation programme was initiated. In 2004 on the basis of his petition before the Green Bench of the High Court at Calcutta, the Act in the name and style of West Bengal Trees (Protection and Conservation in Non-Forest Areas) Act, 2006 was passed. The purpose of the act was to save trees in the non-forest areas of the State.

In 1995, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Supreme Court of India regarding Howrah city’s environmental issues and based on this petition the first Green Bench of the country in any High Court was set up in the Calcutta High Court. From 1995 to date Datta is ventilating the grievances of the masses before the judicial forum through filing the Public Interest Litigations (PIL). On PIL matters, Datta gets the information first, collects the related documents on the subject, verifies the information, visits the locations, takes photographs, drafts the petition, files the PIL and makes the submissions before the Court. Datta has so far moved the highest number of PILs in the country filed before the Supreme Court of India and the High Court at Calcutta.

Datta has been recognized and awarded as a Kolkata Hero by the Times of India Group in the year 2013.

He has been a crusader and has won many legal battles for preserving the environment such as the Botanical Gardens Issue, Conservation of the Brigade Parade Ground and forming country's first Environment Bench, popularly known as the Green Bench among many others.

Pollution

• Air pollution arising out of auto emission in Calcutta;
• West Bengal chapter of Ganges pollution;
• Water contamination in W.B.;
• Mismanagement of Calcutta’s traffic system;
• Failure of drainage and sewage system of Calcutta city;
• Carrying night-soil on human heads;
• Victoria Memorial Hall conservation and management;
• Disorders in Botanical Garden at Howrah;
• Theft of Noble Prize Medal and conservation of objects in the

Museums

• Pollution being caused by unchecked movement of lorries during night hours etc.
• Failure of drainage and sewerage system in Howrah city.
• Shifting of Esplanade Bus Terminus from Calcutta Maidan.
• Use of eco-friendly bio-diesel for automobiles.
• Use of renewable energy in place of conventional power to address

Global Warming

• Rallies and public meetings held on the roads of Calcutta City
• Unreasonable price hike of coal by Coal India Ltd.

• "Indian Environmental Portal". 
• "Pollution, The Telegraph, 10 January 2007".