(With inputs from agencies)

Art of Living event allowed but with Rs 5cr fine

NEW DELHI: Even though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday fined Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation Rs 5 crores and said that all government authorities have failed to fulfil their duties, it still allowed the foundation's 'World Culture Festival' to take place on the ecologically sensitive banks of the Yamuna.The tribunal's order was on pleas by NGOs and environmentalists who sought cancellation of the event on the grounds that it would seriously endanger the fragile ecosystem on the Yamuna's riverbed. In fact, earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi high court said the event would be an ecological disaster.A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked the foundation to deposit the fine -- 'environmental compensation', as the bench described it -- before the three-day event begins on March 11. In addition, the foundation has to give an undertaking by Thursday, that enzymes will not be released into the Yamuna and that no further degradation of the environment will occur.The foundation has spent a total of Rs.25.63 crores on the event.The Tribunal also slapped a fine of Rs five lakhs on the Delhi Development Authority and Rs one lakh on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) --which it described as 'incompetent -- for not discharging their statutory functions.Over the two days of hearing the pleas, the NGT asked tough questions about who had given clearance to the 'World Cultural Festival' which 35 lakh people are expected to attend.During the hearing, the NGT rebuked the environment ministry. "What is your primary duty? Do you believe Art of Living has not done any damage to the environment?"The environment ministry's counsel's reply was that a study needed to be conducted to determine whether any damage has been done."A study will only be (carried out) after damage has been done?" the tribunal retorted.The NGT then criticized the water resources ministry for ignoring the potentially harmful effects of the event.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, now stands shorn of even a "single blade" of grass.Another petitioner, Manoj Mishra of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, questioned the "legality" of the event, and said the area, that is being destroyed "every moment", will take a long time to recover.Earlier Wednesday, a united opposition slammed the government in the Rajya Sabha for allowing the Indian Army to be used for Shankar's private event and also for allowing it to be held on the ecologically fragile flood plains of the Yamuna. They said it would be an environmental disaster.The government sprung to the defence of the 'Art of Living' guru saying his intentions cannot be doubted as he was committed to protecting the environment.Delhi Police has perceived the possibility of a stampede and chaos unless "shortcomings" at the venue of the World Culture Festival are addressed immediately.