Accept fine as bank guarantee: AOL to NGT

Art of Living (AOL) Foundation has moved the National Green Tribunal seeking its nod to accept the fine, slapped for allegedly damaging Yamuna's biodiversity, as bank guarantee instead of “payment of balance amount”.

The tribunal had refused to prohibit the 'World Culture Festival' held between March 11 and 13, but slapped a fine of Rs 5 crore on the foundation for damaging biodiversity of Yamuna.

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On March 11, AOL moved a plea seeking four weeks time for depositing the amount after which the tribunal allowed the foundation to deposit Rs 25 lakh on that day and granted three weeks time period to pay the balance amount.

"The applicant submits that the present application is being filed for modification of the order dated March 9 and March 11 to allow for submission for security by way of a bank guarantee in lieu of payment of balance amount as directed,” the plea said.

AOL has also sought to submit a proposal for laying down methodology for collection of scientific data regarding assessment of actual environmental damage and requested the tribunal to grant 45 days for the same.

Recently, Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan filed a review plea challenging the NGT order which had dismissed his petition on the ground of "delay and laches on the part of the applicant in approaching the tribunal".