November 16, 2024 00:08 (IST)
Follow us:
Parliament rocked by Sri Sri's Yamuna festival row
New Delhi, Mar 9 (IBNS) Parliament was rocked on Wednesday over the issue of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's mega event on the Yamuna flood plains even as a green tribunal is likely to pass its verdict on the festival during the day.
Congress lawmaker Ghulam Nabi Azad said he is not against the cultural festival but what about "environment, biodiversity and ecology of this country."
CPI-M lawmaker Sitaram Yechury outside the Parliament asked how can Indian army men be used for preparing the venue for a private function.
Inside the House Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the matter is being heard by National Green Tribunal. "Will the matter will be heard here or the NGT," he retorted to the Opposition.
India's top green court here will decide Wednesday whether Art of Living supremo Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's mega event on the flood plains of the river Yamuna will be allowed this weekend even as experts examining the venue said Rs. 100 crore should be paid as damage for destroying the environment.
The National Green Tribunal is likely to give a verdict on the World Culture Festival organised by Sri Sri and scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Professor CR Babu, appointed by the National Green Tribunal to review the site, told NDTV that extensive damage has been caused to the region and "100-120 crores will be required to undo the damage and Art of Living must pay that money as penalty."
The event also raised a row over Indian Army personnel being deployed to construct pontoon bridges for the mass festival of the religious guru.
The Delhi government earlier told the tribunal hearing the environmentalists' plea on Tuesdayabout holding the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains that no police or fire safety clearance has been given for the event.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also questioned the Environment Ministry if the alteration of the floodplains requires the ministry's clearance or not, according to reports.
The NGT has also posed some tough questions to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), who had earlier given permission for the holding of the event, reported a news channel.
Art of Living's lawyer Akashama Nath argued that they got the permission of 30 departments and ministries for the event and they have not done a study on environment because they have not been asked for it by the ministry.
The event, which will be held from Mar 11, is planned on Yamuna floods plains of Delhi.
Saying the event might cause damage to the Yamuna ecosystem, several NGOs and environmental activists have moved the NGT.
President Pranab Mukherjee will not attend the festival following the controversy.
According to the Art of Living Foundation website: "The World Culture Festival 2016 is a celebration of The Art of Living's 35 years ofservice to humanity, spirituality and human values. It will take place on March 11-13, 2016 in New Delhi, India."
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
PM Modi returns to Delhi on IAF chopper after his aircraft suffers technical snag in Jharkhand Fri, Nov 15 2024
Indian Air Force to participate in Bahrain International Air Show Fri, Nov 15 2024
India, Nepal, Bangladesh inaugurate trilateral power transaction Fri, Nov 15 2024
Uttarakhand: High-speed car crash kills six students who 'partied' before mishap in Dehradun Fri, Nov 15 2024
UAE: S Jaishankar reviews comprehensive strategic partnership with Deputy PM Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Fri, Nov 15 2024
Diljit Dosanjh barred by Telangana govt from singing songs promoting alcohol, drugs, violence in Hyderabad concert Fri, Nov 15 2024
Manipur: Centre reimposes AFSPA in six regions amid fresh violence Fri, Nov 15 2024