NGT pulls up DDA on Art of Living event

The National Green Tribunal came down heavily on the DDA over its approval to the Art of Living event that would see a crowd of over 35 lakh people and will also see various dignitaries coming in with PM Modi also expected.

The NGT asked the DDA that when the permission to hold the event was not granted in mid-2015 why was it was finally granted on December 15, 2015. In its defence, DDA counsel mentioned that they did not realise about how big the event would be and gave approval keeping in mind that the event would be a cultural programme. It is expected that in celebration of completion of 35 years, a grand event titled World Culture Festival by Art of Living Foundation would be held on the banks of river Yamuna from Mach 11-13, that would see not only around 35 lakh people coming in but will also result in usage of 20 hectare of sitting space, 1.5 hectare of platform and 2.4 hectare of parking space in the western bank of the river.

Reports from the committees appointed by the NGT and the Ministry of Environment and Forests found that the land on the floodplain had been levelled and cleared to make space for the function.