The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday issued notices to the Art of living Foundation of Sri Sri Ravish-ankar, for causing alleged damage to the environment for hosting the upcoming World Culture Festival. Preparations are on for the festival along the banks of the Yamuna, for which the organisers have obtained clearance from both the Centre and State.
The three-day festival will begin from March 11 in East Delhi to mark the celebration of 35 years of The Art of living. It is expected to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi. Sri lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani are also likely to participate.
The green panel headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar has sought response from Government agencies. It has directed Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to submit all the documents on the basis of which permission for the event was granted to the foundation. It has also sought a status report which has to be prepared by the DDA along with an IIT Professor AK Gosain .
The Bench was hearing a petition by Manoj Mishra from the organisation called, “Save the Yamuna Abhiyaan”. His petition alleged damage to the environment and the river bed, contending that the Government should not have given permission despite a ban by the NGT.