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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  NGT grants Art of Living three weeks to deposit green compensation
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NGT grants Art of Living three weeks to deposit green compensation

Foundation told to pay restoration costs for damage caused to environment, deposit `25 lakh immediately

NGT says the amount of Rs5 crore imposed on AOL was not a penalty but an environmental compensation and should be taken in that spirit. Photo: APPremium
NGT says the amount of Rs5 crore imposed on AOL was not a penalty but an environmental compensation and should be taken in that spirit. Photo: AP

New Delhi: Hours before the World Culture Festival was to kick off on the banks of the Yamuna, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) granted the Art of Living Foundation (AOL) an extension to deposit the environment compensation imposed on it two days earlier.

The tribunal asked the foundation to deposit 25 lakh on Friday, and the balance in the next three weeks. It also warned that in case of failure to pay the initial 25 lakh, it will attach the grant of 2.5 crore which the ministry of culture is supposed to pay AOL.

The order came in response to an application by AOL seeking an extension to deposit the money.

“We wish to abide by the court’s order but would require more time to deposit the money. We are a trust and one day is not sufficient to deposit such a big amount," Saraswati Akshama Nath, counsel for AOL, said.

Tribunal chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar said in order to preserve the sanctity of the 9 March order, AOL must pay some amount on Friday, and an amount of 25 lakh was decided upon.

The festival itself opened with Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaping praise on AOL founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, saying he had “introduced" India to the world. “India has the cultural heritage and richness which the whole world is looking for. We can fulfil those needs... But it can only happen if we take pride in our heritage. If we keep cursing it, then why will the world look at us," Modi said.

He spent three hours at the event but did not make any reference to the controversy triggered by environmental activists accusing AOL of destroying the river bed by erecting massive structures.

Former France prime minister Dominique Villepin and Nepal’s deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa were among the foreign dignitaries present. Several others, including Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, Sri Lankan president Maitripala Sirisena and Afghanistan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah stayed away.

The tribunal clarified the amount of 5 crore imposed on the foundation was not a penalty but an environmental compensation and should be taken in that spirit.

It also directed the authorities concerned to ensure that all preventive measures are taken during the event to ensure no pollution is caused either to the Yamuna or its floodplains. It asked for putting in place a mechanism for proper disposal of waste generated during the event.

The Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and environment ministry submitted that after an inspection, directions in compliance with the 9 March order had been issued.

On 9 March, NGT had given its go-ahead to the cultural event to be held from 11-13 March but imposed compensation and restoration costs on AOL and other concerned authorities.

Subsequently, NGT said AOL will have to pay restoration costs for damage caused to environment, ecology, biodiversity and aquatic life, which will be decided by a committee appointed by the court.

In his petition to NGT, Manoj Misra said, “This proposed activity would be in blatant violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002".

Several violations were alleged, including the dumping of construction debris, building pontoon bridges and destruction of floodplains. The petitioner also claimed that a large number of birds and other “natural life" had been impacted by the work.

AOL, however, maintained that it was using eco-friendly material comprising bamboo, wood and mud at the site which would not cause any harm to the ecosystem.

“We do not have the slightest intention of causing damage to the floodplains and want to work collectively to restore the floodplains in the best possible manner," the court was told by Saraswati Akshama Nath.

The event, which is being organized at a cost of 25.63 crore, including decoration costs of 10 crore, is expected to be attended by 500,000 people over a span of three days. It is to commemorate 35 years of the AOL Foundation.

The matter will now be taken up after the event concludes, on 4 April.

PTI contributed to the story.

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Published: 11 Mar 2016, 04:40 PM IST
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