Found nothing wrong with Yamuna floodplains: DDA
to reports of experts, a Delhi Development Authority team hasn’t found ‘anything wrong’ with Yamuna floodplains, where a three-day cultural event was organised by the Art of Living in 2016.
“DDA officials visited the site after the event to see if conditions imposed for holding the event were met. The team didn’t find anything wrong. There were no violations,” the DDA’s counsel told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday.
A seven-member expert committee appointed by NGT earlier had pointed out that the event had adversely affected the ecology of nearly 420 acres of land on the banks of Yamuna. It claimed that it would take at least 10 years to fix the damage done.
DDA’s statements appeared to be in line with views expressed by former Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra, who had criticised the NGT’s expert panel report in April this year.
“The DDA admitted before the NGT that there were no violations by Art of Living. All conditions for the permission were adhered to,” said a spokesperson of the Art of Living.
The principal bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, however, didn’t seem to be convinced by DDA’s comments and observed that the agency should have been more cautious while giving permission to hold the event. “If they have granted the permission, then they must own some responsibility,” the bench said.
Earlier in April, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had claimed that Centre, Delhi government and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) should be held responsible for the damage to the Yamuna floodplains.
DDA’s counsel countered that the agency can’t be held responsible as permission for event was given on the basis of representation made by Art of Living.