Environmental protection

NGT holds AoL responsible for Yamuna floodplains damage

50G-Artistes (File) Artistes performing at the World Culture Festival | Aayush Goel

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday held the Art of Living (AoL) foundation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplains due to it organising the World Culture Festival there in March 2016. However the NGT did not impose any penalty on the AoL.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar refused to impose any further environment compensation on the AoL and said the Rs 5 crore, which was submitted by it earlier, would be used for the restoration of the floodplains.

"We hold AoL responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplains in terms of the report submitted by the expert committee," the bench said.

The bench, also comprising Justice Jawad Rahim and expert member B.S. Sajwan, directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to assess the damage caused on the floodplains and compute the cost of restoration in line with the recommendations of the expert panel.

The tribunal said that in case the expenditure of the restoration crossed Rs 5 crore, then it would be recovered from AoL. However, if the costs is less than Rs 5 crore, the remaining amount would be refunded to the foundation, it said.

The NGT also said the Yamuna floodplains should not be used for any activity that can cause damage to the environment.

However, it refused to decide whether AoL was authorised to hold the festival on the Yamuna floodplains, saying the question was beyond its jurisdiction.

The NGT also rapped the DDA for failing to exercise its duty to protect the Yamuna floodplains but refrained from imposing any penalty on it.

Before the pronouncement of the judgement, it was informed that Justice R.S. Rathore, who had earlier heard the matter, had recused from the bench.

The AoL counsel said that they would approach the Supreme Court against the verdict.

"We do not agree with the verdict. Our submissions have not been dealt with/considered. We will appeal to the Supreme Court. We are confident that we will get justice before the Supreme Court," AoL said.

An expert panel had told the NGT that Rs 42.02 crore would be required to restore the Yamuna floodplains, which was ravaged due to the cultural extravaganza held from March 11-13, 2016.

The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Manoj Misra who claimed that severe damage was done to the river and the floodplains and it must be restored by the authorities concerned.

Environmentalists had opposed the AoL's decision to organise the World Culture Festival on the floodplains on the grounds that the area was ecologically fragile. The event included a stage stretching seven acres for 35,000 musicians and dancers, newly built dirt tracks and 650 portable toilets across 1,000 acres.

The Art of Living had denied it caused any damage to the banks, alleging that it had been the victim of a 'conspiracy.'

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