The Art of living has questioned that why there was such a hullabaloo as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had given it permission to hold "World Cultural Festival" on Yamuna riverbed with a few riders.
Talking to The Pioneer, Radhika Hoon , official spokesperson of Art of living (AOl), said a team of AOl had visited the riverbank in November 2015 to find out whether cultural festival at large scale could be organised on the vacant land.
"The team of AOl met DDA officials and explained the conditions and asked for permission," said Hoon, adding that the Authority had given permission with a condition that levelling of ground and cleanliness should be taken care of by AOl.
The spokesperson said AOl is not doing anything wrong and they have been directed by the NGT to compensate Rs 5 crore to protect environment purposes. "The NGT has not asked us to pay fine. It was not a fine for destroying riverbed of Yamuna but it is an amount to be used to protect environment", Hoon said. " The money would be used for development biodiversity park at the riverbed," Hoon said.