‘Govt didn’t keep negotiators in loop on change in stand'

NEW DELHI: India’s negotiator Chandrasekhar Dasgupta issued a statement on Sunday merely to confirm that he would be in Copenhagen in the next few days. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, however, said Prodipto Ghosh, the other negotiator, would be leaving on Tuesday morning and Dasgupta the morning after. Sources said Dasgupta was supposed to leave on Sunday.

Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment was most critical, “It is clear that the government’s announcement in Parliament did not have the support of key negotiators and bureaucrats.

There are concerns that this announcement has been done at the behest of the US and will weaken climate change agreement and put constraints on our growth without compensation. The fears expressed by negotiators must be listened to.”

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley questioned the unilateral decision by India of a 25% cut in carbon intensity by 2020, saying the developed world had not done enough but expected us to take these measures.

“A 25% unilateral reduction in carbon intensity by 2020 involves huge costs. What have the developed countries done in reciprocation? Obviously, every Indian — including our negotiators — are unhappy but US president is pleased because India has come on board,” Jaitley said.