Govt, NGT responsible for damaging Yamuna floodplains: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar remark came after the report of an expert committee set up by NGT said it would take a decade for the rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplains from adverse damages caused by the f

New Delhi, April 18: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday said the authorities should have never given permission to hold the World Culture Festival, WCF if the Yamuna was 'so fragile and pure'.

He added that "the fine should be levied on the National Green Tribunal, NGT and the central and Delhi governments for giving permission to hold the event."

The NGT had the application file for two months and they could have stopped it in the beginning. It defies all principles of natural justice that you give permissions and slap a fine for not violating any rules.

"If the Yamuna was so fragile and pure, they should have stopped the World Culture Festival at the very beginning. A historic programme, deserving of applause and appreciation, is unjustly projected as a crime," he said.

Ravi Shankar added that "the event, which saw over three million attendees from 155 countries over a three-day period, polluted neither air, water nor land."

"The Art of Living, that has rejuvenated 27 rivers, planted 71 million trees, revived several ponds, is being projected as destroying a dead river," Ravi Shankar said.

The event was held on the left bank of the river between the Barapullah elevated road and the DND flyway between March 11 and 13, 2016.

IANS