NGT expert body recommends Rs 120 crore penalty on Art of Living

An expert committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal has recommended that the Art of Living (AOL) Foundation should pay Rs 100-120 crore as restoration cost for "extensive and severe damage" to the floodplains of Yamuna river, the venue for AOL's forthcoming mega event to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

From March 11 to 13, the AOL is organising a World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains, opposite Mayur Vihar Phase-I metro station, and according to the expert committee, a total area of not less than 60 hectares has been damaged, in violation of past NGT orders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate the three-day event while President Pranab Mukherjee will chair the valedictory function.

The NGT appointed a four-member expert committee after Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a non-profit organisation, approached thetribunal for stopping work on the event on grounds of grave environmental damage. As part of the event's construction, the NGO is attempting to build the world's largest temporary stage that will be 1,200 feet in length, 200 feet wide and 40 feet high.

The NGT's four-member expert committee that visited the site comprised Shashi Shekhar, secretary water resources ministry, CR Babu of Union environment ministry, Prof AK Gosain from IIT-Delhi and Prof Brij Gopal from Jaipur. The expert committee report, reviewed by dna, said that the floodplain between the river and DND flyover has been levelled flat while small water bodies that existed earlier have been filled up and all the natural vegetation has been removed and the site has been compacted.

The organisers have joined the DND flyway with the floodplain close the stage for providing access to the VIPs by filling up the area with debris and earth, the committee observed. "Natural vegetation consisting of reeds, and trees has been completely removed, and the large number of birds and other natural life that was supported by the floodplain has vanished," the report said.

In it recommendations to the NGT, the expert committee said that major restoration work has to be carried out to compensate for the damage to Yamuna floodplains. "The organisers should be responsible for funding the restoration as penalty. The committee in its rough estimation feels that the local cost of restoration on the floodplain on western side of river alone will cost Rs 100-120 crore, given the huge quantity of debris is to be removed and site de-compacted. Art of Living should pay the amount before the event. The entire ecological restoration should be completed within one year from the date of event's completion," the committee has said.

The NGT chairperson bench headed by justice Swatanter Kumar will now decide if the event will proceed.

Meanwhile, the Art of Living has said that it adopted an eco-friendly approach in dealing with the preparations for the mega event.

"We have not read the report and we shall contest it in the court. This is a one-sided report and we have full faith in the judiciary. We have not polluted the river. All Kumbh Melas happen by the river. Besides, we have been eco-friendly in our preparations. We have not used even one cement bag," said Gautam Vig, director, Art of Living.

The expert committee has also put the Delhi Development Authority in the dock for permitting the event in "gross violation of an NGT order dated January 13, 2015 banning any activity on Yamuna floodplains. "Strong message should be given through a suitable order to DDA and all concerned authorities for any violations. Organizers must restrict the area for their function to the bare minimum and submit a revised plan through an affidavit to the court with a day or two along with a site map stating all the details.

The event programmes will be spread across 1,000 acres and more than 20,000 international guests are expected to attend it. The festival will see diplomats, foreign dignitaries, cabinet ministers, corporate heads, entrepreneurs, state environment ministers and even environmentalists speaking at the mega event.