ART OF LIVING FEST DAMAGED YAMUNA’S FLOODPLAIN: NGT
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday held the Art of Living Foundation “responsible” for damage to the Yamuna floodplains caused by the World Culture Festival in 2016. The foundation said it would appeal the order in the Supreme Court.
The tribunal, in its order, stated that the ₹5 crore fine, paid by the Art of Living Foundation last year, would be used for restoration, and that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) would be responsible for this.
An expert panel had earlier told the NGT that ₹42.02 crore would be required to restore the Yamuna floodplains, on part of which the World Culture Festival was held from March 11-13, 2016. The controversial case had pitted the influential foundation against environmental activists. The festival itself was supported by both the Union government and the Delhi government. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal attended the festival.
Reacting to Thursday’s judgment, the Art of Living Foundation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said it was “disappointed with the decision taken by the NGT”. “We do not agree with the verdict. Our submissions have not been dealt with or considered. We will appeal to the Supreme Court. We are confident that we will get justice before the Supreme Court,” it said in a statement.
Last month, the green court reserved its verdict in the case after hearing the submissions of all parties concerned, which said that as per a 2006 environment impact assessment report, no environmental clearance was needed for the festival. CHANDIGARH: The special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged Murthal gangrapes reported during the February 2016 Jat quota violence is learnt to have told the Punjab and Haryana high court that it could “neither find any victim nor accused in the case” after nearly 18 months of court-monitored probe.
The final report was submitted in a sealed cover to the court on Thursday and is yet to be made public. Top government sources, however, told Hindustan Times that the SIT headed by inspector general Mamta Singh could not find anyone who could corroborate the claims of gangrapes at Murthal on the Delhi-chandigarh National highway, which had witnessed blockades and violence by the Jat protesters.
“Over 500 witnesses were examined. The mobile tower dump from Ambala to Palwal (of those who travelled on fateful night) was scanned. A large number of people were also contacted. But none came forward to confirm that rapes had taken place,” a top official said.
The SIT was constituted under the high court order and the FIR into the alleged gangrapes was registered in April 2016 after court’s intervention. “Five suspects were also held. Their DNA did not match with that of semen found on clothes at the site claimed to be that of crime,” added the official.
The alleged gangrapes, according to a newsreport by an English daily, took place on the intervening night of February 22 and 23, when Jats seeking quota were protesting across the state. The high court had taken suo motu note of the report in February 2016. The beleaguered state government had roped in Tushar Mehta , additional solicitor general, to defend it.
The official added that some