National Green Tribunal clears Art of Living event with Rs. 5 Crore fine

The National Green Tribunal today cleared the decks for the three-day cultural extravaganza of Art of Living on the flood plains of Yamuna river from Friday. It imposed a fine of Rs 5 Crores as ‘environmental compensation’.

The tribunal also slapped fines of Rs 5 lakhs on DDA and Rs 1 lakhs on Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for not discharging statutory functions.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, asked AOL, headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to deposit Rs five crores as environmental compensation before the event begins on March 11.

The NGT clearance came on a day the Delhi High Court described the event, from whose valedictory function the President has already pulled out, as a disaster from the ecological point of view.

Image credit: Indiatimes