NGT clears AOL event on Yamuna riverbed

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 9, 2016: Notwithstanding raging controversies, the National Green Tribunal today cleared the decks for the three-day cultural extravaganza of Art of Living on the flood plains of Yamuna river from Friday but imposed a fine of Rs five crores on it as environmental compensation.

After posing tough questions, the tribunal also slapped fine of Rs five lakh on DDA and Rs one lakh on Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for not discharging statutory functions.

 

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked AOL, headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to deposit Rs five crores as environmental compensation before the event begins on March 11.

The NGT clearance came on a day the Delhi High Court described the event, from whose valedictory function the President has already pulled out, as a disaster from the ecological point of view.

The tribunal also asked AOL to give an undertaking by tomorrow that enzymes will not be released into Yamuna river and that no further degradation of environment will happen.
Besides slapping the fines, the tribunal directed AOL to develop the entire area in question into a biodiversity park.

The tribunal’s order came on the pleas by NGOs and environmentalists who had sought cancellation of the festival on the ground that it would seriously endanger the fragile ecosystem on the riverbed.

Environmental activist Anand Arya, who filed the petition to stop the event, rued that over 1000-acres of the sensitive area between Delhi and Noida, predominantly marshland, stand shorn of even a "single blade" of grass.

Another petitioner Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan questioned the "legality" of the event, and said the area, being destroyed "every moment", will take a long time to recover and slammed the organisers for the "lack of understanding" on their part.

During two days of hearing, the NGT had posed tough questions over who had given clearance to the ’World Cultural Festival’ in which 35 lakh people are expected to participate.

During the hearing, the Water Resources ministry told the tribunal that it has not granted permission for the festival while another ministry said no clearance was required for temporary structures.

Responding to questions from the green panel, the Water Resources ministry distanced itself from the controversy, saying, "We have not granted any permission regarding the event and no application is pending with us on the same."

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, whereas, told the the bench that no environment clearance was required for setting up temporary structures on Yamuna flood plains.

The ministry’s submission came after the bench pulled it up for not filing affidavit on environmental clearances.

The tribunal also asked the counsel appearing for AOL to take instructions not to put enzymes into river Yamuna without Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s permission, to which the foundation later agreed.

It was informed by Delhi government that after inspecting the site, the police asked AOL to show structural safety clearance of pontoon bridge and vehicle parking clearance.

Delhi government also told the bench that Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has asked the foundation to build a separate stage for the Prime Minister due to issues over structural safety, a claim denied by AOL which said it was being built for better view of the event.

AOL, however, informed the bench that all necessary steps for safety of people have been taken as any untoward incident at venue will be detrimental to the country’s image.

Giving the details of the expenditure incurred on the event, the AOL foundation informed the green panel that a total of Rs 25.63 crore has been spent on the preparations.

The tribunal had questioned yesterday the building up of pontoon bridge by the Army on river Yamuna for the festival and asked DDA as to who gave permission for setting it up.

DDA had informed the NGT that it granted permission for 24.44 hectare for holding of the event. AOL had said it had satisfied the DDA for permission by fulfillng the condition that no permanent structures will be constructed on flood plains.

The foundation had said that no concretization has been done, no permanent structure has been built and only wood, clothes and bamboo is being used at the site.

The NGT, which was also hearing a plea against AOL’s plan to release ’enzymes’ into 17 drains joining Yamuna for cleaning the river, had constituted an expert committee headed by Water Resources Secretary to inspect the festival site.

The AOL, which is organising the function, will have yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers by Sanskrit scholars and traditional cultural performances from India and abroad.