No permission for AOL event: Water Resources Ministry to Natl Green Tribunal

New Delhi: Faced with tough questions from National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Water Resources ministry on Wednesday told the panel it has not granted permission for ‘World Cultural Festival’ being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living foundation from March 11 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 it has not given any clearance for the three-day event.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, whereas, told the the NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar that no environment clearance was required for setting up temporary structures on Yamuna flood plains.
The ministry’s submission came after the tribunal, which was hearing pleas seeking cancellation of the festival on the flood plains of Yamuna river, had pulled it up for not filing an affidavit regarding environmental clearances.
During the hearing, the green panel asked the counsel appearing for Art of Living (AOL) to take instructions not to put enzymes into river Yamuna without Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s permission, to which the foundation later agreed.
The tribunal also asked the Centre, Delhi govt, DDA if any environment impact assessment was carried out regarding preparation and consequential effects of the festival.
The tribunal was informed by the Delhi government that the police, after inspecting the site, had asked the foundation to show if they have structural safety clearance of pontoon bridge and vehicle parking clearance.
Delhi govt also told the bench that CPWD has asked the foundation to build a separate stage for the Prime Minister due to issues over structural safety, a claim denied by the AOL which said it was being built for better view of the event.
The counsel appearing for Ministry of Water Resources told the bench, “We have not granted any permission regarding the event and no application is pending with us on the same.”
The foundation, however, informed the bench that all necessary steps for safety of the people have been taken saying any untoward incident at the venue will be detrimental to 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 entire preparation.
The TRIBUNAL had questioned yesterday the building up of pontoon bridge by the Army on river Yamuna for the festival, and asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) counsel as to who gave the permission for setting it up.
DDA, Delhi government, MoEF said that they have no relation with the grant of permission for setting up the pontoon bridge as all the three said that they are concerned only with different issues. (PTI)