NGT Asks Govt Why No Environmental Clearance Is Required for WCF

The Ministry of Environment and Forest said no environment clearance is needed for temporary structures.

The World Cultural Festival stage can be seen just off the DND (Photo altered by The Quint)

The National Green Tribunal questioned the Centre why no environmental clearance is required for erecting structures in Yamuna Flood plains for the Art of Living Foundation’s three-day World Culture Festival.

The direction came after the counsel appearing for Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) said that they have found no debris at the site, when an expert team had visited and as per Environment Impact Assessment notification 2006. The MoEF said that no environment clearance is needed for temporary structures.

It said that constant watch is being maintained that no debris or municipal waste is being dumped in Yamuna flood plains and a running contractor is there to remove the debris, if any dumped.

The bench headed by NGT chairperson Swantanter Kumar then said that DDA just can’t wash its hand off by saying no debris is there as the photographs on record does show the presence of waste at the site.

You (MoEF) file an affidavit by tomorrow and tell us why no environmental clearance is needed for raising temporary structures in flood plains.

<b>NGT Bench</b>

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The NGT also questioned the building up of pontoon bridge by the Army on river Yamuna for the festival, and asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) counsel as who gave the permission for setting it up.

The DDA, Delhi government, MoEF said that they have no relation with the grant of permission for setting up the pontoon bridge. All the three said that they are concerned only with different issues.

While DDA said it was only required to give no objection certificate for the bridge, Delhi government submitted that its role for the pontoon bridge comes only at the time of flood and MoEF passed the buck on Ministry of Water Resources.

Advocate Rajiv Bansal appearing for DDA defending its decision saying:

The area is meant for recreational activity. The area is with DDA and it is the competent authority. Permission was granted after taking proper legal opinion which was conditional that no permanent structure will be constructed and also that it will be subject to permissions from other concerned authorities.

Art of Living in its submission said that it had taken the requisite permissions from all the authorities except the police which is subject to permission from Fire department and they have fulfilled all the conditions.

Assuming that all necessary permissions were taken for the event but has anybody considered what the impact will be on the environment, river, ecology and biodiversity. Has any study being conducted in this regard?

<b>NGT</b>

The bench after hearing the matter adjourned the matter for tomorrow. The NGT is hearing pleas seeking stoppage of ongoing construction on the flood plains for the Cultural festival.