The Supreme Court on Saturday set aside a 2017 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) holding Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation responsible for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplain due to its World Culture Festival held here in 2016.
The top court’s order came on an appeal filed by Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, associated with the Art of Living Foundation, challenging the NGT verdict. The court also slammed the DDA for granting permission to hold the event on an active floodplain and directed it to continue the work towards the rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplain, as directed by the NGT. The top court also directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the Rs 5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation.
The top court said the tribunal got swayed by the expert committee’s report that massive preparatory work was going on at the site and went on to conclude that by undertaking such work, the appellant had severely damaged the floodplain. The court said the DDA was bound to take all preventive steps and precautions to avoid any further deterioration of the active floodplain.
