Accept fine as bank guarantee: AOL to NGT

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living (AOL) has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking its nod to accept the fine, slapped for allegedly damaging the Yamuna’s biodiversity, as bank guarantee instead of “payment of balance amount”.

The green panel had on March 9 refused to prohibit the ‘World Culture Festival’ held between March 11 and 13, but had slapped a fine of Rs 5 crore on his Art of Living foundation for damaging the biodiversity and aquatic life of the Yamuna.

On March 11, the AOL moved a plea, seeking four weeks’ time for depositing the amount, after which the tribunal allowed the foundation to deposit Rs 25 lakh on that day and granted three weeks time to pay the balance amount.

“The applicant submits that the present application is being filed for modification of the order dated March 9 and March 11 to allow for submission for security by way of a bank guarantee in lieu of payment of balance amount as directed,” the plea stated. 

The Art of Living foundation has also sought to submit a proposal for laying down the methodology for collection of scientific data regarding assessment of actual environmental damage and requested the tribunal to grant 45 days for the same.