NGT to resume hearing today on Sri Sri's mega event

The green body has asked the Environment Ministry for explanation as to why no environmental clearance is needed for raising temporary structures

The National Green Tribunal will continue to hear today the plea seeking to stop construction of temporary structure on the flood plains of Yamuna for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living World Culture Festival in Delhi.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swantanter Kumar yesterday asked Ministry of Environment and Forest to file an affidavit today and explain why no environmental clearance is needed for raising temporary structures.

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

In yesterday's hearing the Green Panel also questioned the building up of pontoon bridge by the Indian Army on river Yamuna for the festival.

World Culture Festival organised by Art of Living is scheduled to be held from March 11 to 13 on the banks of the Yamuna.

Earlier, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar defended the event, saying not a single tree has been cut and the ecological stability has been maintained during the preparations.

"We are asserting that we will turn the place into a beautiful bio diversity park once we are finished with it. Since 2010, our volunteers have been working hard to clean the river and around 512 tonnes of dirt and garbage has been fished out. We want to save the Yamuna. We have not cut a single tree and have maintained ecological stability. We want to see Yamuna transformed into a beauty again," Ravi Shankar said.

Sri Sri's Art of Living foundation says the event will feature yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers and traditional cultural performances from around the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate event on Friday.