Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living destroyed Yamuna floodplain, rehab will cost Rs 13 crore: NGT panel
New Delhi, April 12: A National Green Tribunal (NGT) appointed committee of experts on Wednesday held Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living responsible for destroying Yamuna floodplain area used for the event during World Cultural Festival in March 2016.
The expert panel told NGT that the rehabilitation of Yamuna floodplains destroyed by AOL’s ‘World Culture Festival’ will cost Rs 13.29 crore.
The Art of Living said their legal team will study the report. “Our legal team will study the report and decide on the appropriate future course of action,” Kedar Desai, AOL spokesperson.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had directed the expert committee, headed by Shashi Shekhar, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, to quantify the damage and furnish a tentative cost for restoration of the area within 45 days.
The panel also comprises senior scientist from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Professor CR Babu, Professor AK Gosain, Professor Brij Gopal and two more members.
During the hearing, the counsel for AOL termed allegations of environmental damage as “unscientific, biased and unsustainable” and sought a copy of the inspection report which was filed in a sealed cover to file its response.
