Art of Living foundation has termed a National Green Tribunal report against it as "unscientific"
Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living foundation has demanded a fresh probe by an 'unbiased' panel to decide on whether its 'World Cultural Festival' organized in March had caused any damage to the Yamuna riverbed.
Lawyers representing the Art of Living today termed the environmental body's report on damages to the Yamuna river bed "unscientific, and illogical" claiming that the report was contradicting its own earlier findings.
"The area was notified as floodplains and not wetlands. In the Delhi Wetland Atlas there is no mention of any wetlands at the site where the event was held," Art of Living's lawyer Kota Desai said.
Prabhakar Rao, and environment expert defending the Art of Living foundation added, "How can a panel go against its own estimate? The committee had earlier said damages were only Rs 120 crores, now it is saying something else."
"We need an unbiased committee to look into the matter" Mr Rao added.
The Art of Living foundation has been demanding fresh assessment of the site where the World Cultural Festival was held and more proof from the green panel to back the latter's claim of extensive damage to the Yamuna riverbed.
Earlier, the national green body had directed a seven member committee comprising of experts from Ministry of Water Resources, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi to inspect the Yamuna riverbed for damages.
The expert committee had concluded that the entire floodplain area used for the World Cultural Festival had been completely destroyed, and not just damaged.
"The ground is now totally levelled, compacted and hardened. It is devoid of water bodies and depression and any vegetation. Almost all natural vegetation like trees, shrubs, tall grasses and aquatic vegetation including water hyacinth has been destroyed."