AoL’s use of enzymes in river draws flak

Even as the Art of Living Foundation has been given permission to commemorate its 35th anniversary with a fine of five crore, the event will still be embroiled in a slew of controversies.

One controversy which was also raked up in the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday was the usage of enzymes by the foundation to clean river Yamuna. The Art of Living Foundation has been using the enzymes or ecozymes to clean the river and have been propagating its benefits in its websites and in the social media.

The environmental activists, however, have criticised this move and have said that at a time when there is lack of awareness of the chemical used, there must have been strict action taken by the authorities. Responding to Millennium Post, Anand Arya, who was also one of the petitioners at the NGT regarding the stoppage of the event said: “Even at the NGT, the issue of the enzymes used was raked up. The counsel of AOL said that the enzymes used was a disinfectant and was used to remove the stench of the river, however, the Tribunal ruled that from now there would be no more enzymes that will be released into the river.”

The same sentiment was echoed by Vimlendu Jha who said that his main focus was on the damage of floodplains done due to the preparation of the event. The usage of this unknown chemical compound also was of concern to him. “It is illogical that babaji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) will put an unknown compound and will clean the river.”