Yamuna show gets green light with a ` 5-crore fine
NGT HEARING Bars such events in future, says DDA should have ‘applied mind’
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday cleared the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplain in Delhi despite fears of irreparable damage to the area’s delicate ecosystem.
The green court has said spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation will have to pay a fine of ` 5 crore before the three-day World Culture Festival opens on Friday.
“For the damage caused to the environment, ecology, biodiversity and aquatic life of the river, the Foundation should be held liable for its restoration in all respects. In that regard… we impose an Environmental Compensation, initially of ` 5 crore,” NGT (National Green Tribunal) chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar said in his order.
The rest of the fine amount will be decided after an NGT-appointed committee assesses the damage to the floodplain.
The Art of Living Foundation will appeal against the green court’s order. “We appreciate all those who came in support of World Culture Festival. The festival will go as per planned and since we have not violated any rules we will appeal against the NGT order,” a spokesperson said. The event, however, is yet to receive fire, police and structural safety clearances.
Delhi Fire Service chief AK Sharma said they were yet to give permission while Delhi police said they would give their nod only after receiving a clearance from all the other agencies. After posing tough questions, the tribunal also slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the Delhi Development Authority and Rs 1 lakh on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for not discharging statutory functions.
“DDA ought to have applied its mind before granting permission,” the NGT said, barring the DDA from green-lighting such events in future.
The green court also asked Art of Living to give an undertaking by Thursday that bioenzymes will not be released into the Yamuna and that no further degradation of environment will happen. The tribunal has also directed that the entire area in question be developed into a biodiversity park.
The Art of Living Foundation admitted in court that it would spend Rs 25.63 crore for the event, of which Rs 15.63 crore was for stage, marquees and other constructions and the remaining Rs 10 crore for decoration and lighting.
The order came on a day the controversial event rocked Parliament, with Opposition parties demanding that the government scrap the festival as it violated an NGT order prohibiting construction on the Yamuna floodplain.
“In the history of Hindustan such a destructive game has never been played upon Delhi. Who are these people... This drama should stop... this will destroy Yamuna,” Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav said amid slogan shouting by Opposition members.
In Parliament, Yadav questioned the government’s move to divert the army to erect pontoon bridges at the event site.
“He (Ravi Shankar) is one person and you have deployed the country’s army there to erect bridges. It can’t go on like this.” HT has reported extensively on the damage and violation of construction norms by the organisers who have cleared more than 1,000 acres for the festival to be attended by over a million people.
The Art of Living Foundation has said the event will not cause any ecological damage, with Ravi Shankar calling the petition to block the event politically motivated. But the organisers have admitted they are yet to get permissions from the city fire service, police as well as the transport department for parking vehicles at the Millennium Bus Depot. President Pranab Mukherjee has already pulled out of the event that is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will feature yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers and cultural performances. But the JD(U), the Communist Party of India and the Congress weren’t impressed, with CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury calling the move to deploy the army “highly irregular”.