NGT Clears Deck for World Culture Festival, Slaps Rs 5 Cr Fine
The National Green Tribunal gave its go ahead to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living event on the Yamuna plains.
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Notwithstanding raging controversies, decks were today cleared for the three-day cultural extravaganza of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living on the Yamuna flood plains, with the National Green Tribunal expressing its helplessness in banning the event because of “fait accompli”.
Nevertheless, it imposed a fine of Rs 5 crore on AOL as environmental compensation after coming down heavily on the foundation for not disclosing its full plans, and also on the DDA and Environment Ministry for their role. Late in the night, the AOL announced that it would appeal against the NGT order. Any challenge to the NGT order usually lies with the Supreme Court.
The green tribunal, which found several environmental violations committed by the organisers, blamed the delay on the part of environmental activists in raising the issue before it, which compelled it to grant permission for the event.
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