New Delhi: With just two days to go before his heavily-advertised mega-festival is to begin in Delhi, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is not the only one confronting the displeasure of India's top environmental court.
The Union Environment Ministry was asked by the court on Tuesday to explain whether it had taken any steps to prevent damage to the fragile ecosystem of the venue - the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi. "Protecting the river is your prime responsibility," the judges said at the National Green Tribunal. The ministry will deliver its response on Wednesday.
The Delhi government on Tuesday said that neither fire safety clearances nor police permission have been sanctioned so far for the event.
The court has been asked to cancel the three-day World Peace Festival which will include lectures and mass meditation sessions by activists Anand Arya and Manoj Mishra who warn of irreversible environmental damage, a claim denounced by Sri Sri.
Amid the surging controversy, President Pranab Mukherjee, who had agreed to attend the event along with other VVIPs like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cancelled.
Sri Sri's Art of Living Foundation will explain in court on Wednesday if it carried out a survey to assess possible environmental damage. It has also been ordered to clarify how many attendees are likely - the court pointed out that ads stressed Rs 35 lakh, while the organizers at Tuesday's hearing suggested about two lakh people will be present at any given time.
The Army's role - it has been used to construct temporary bridges over the river - has also been questioned. The Delhi government said in court on Tuesday that "pontoon (or floating) bridges are sanctioned only if there is a flood alert.
The Delhi Pollution Committee said that it had informed the organizers that they don't issue clearances for cultural events, but the agency's representatives also told the court that when they were approached, "the entire picture" of the scale of the event was not clear.
The Union Environment Ministry was asked by the court on Tuesday to explain whether it had taken any steps to prevent damage to the fragile ecosystem of the venue - the banks of the River Yamuna in Delhi. "Protecting the river is your prime responsibility," the judges said at the National Green Tribunal. The ministry will deliver its response on Wednesday.
The Delhi government on Tuesday said that neither fire safety clearances nor police permission have been sanctioned so far for the event.
Amid the surging controversy, President Pranab Mukherjee, who had agreed to attend the event along with other VVIPs like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cancelled.
Advertisement
The Army's role - it has been used to construct temporary bridges over the river - has also been questioned. The Delhi government said in court on Tuesday that "pontoon (or floating) bridges are sanctioned only if there is a flood alert.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Substantial Issue": National Green Tribunal Takes Up Manipur "Forest Cover Loss" Green Tribunal Seeks Complete Report From 53 Cities On Polluting Sources Supreme Court Slams Green Tribunal For "Unilateral Decision Making" Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Send Reports Every 2 Hours: Centre To States On Kolkata Horror Protests Siddaramaiah's Swipe At Governor Amid Calls For Resignation: 10 Points Trump, Kamala Harris To Fight For Pennsylvania Votes With Rally, Bus Tour Send Reports Every 2 Hours: Centre To States On Kolkata Horror Protests Thar, Scorpio SUVs Inside Restricted Zone In Ranthambore Tiger Reserve Seized Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.