NGT panel's report on damage to Yamuna floodplains ‘unscientific and illogical’, says Art of Living
8 years, 7 months ago

NGT panel's report on damage to Yamuna floodplains ‘unscientific and illogical’, says Art of Living

India TV News  

Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living has termed as ‘unscientific and illogical’ a National Green Tribunal panel's report, which held that the three-day ‘World Cultural Festival’ completely damaged to the Yamuna floodplains. Demanding a fresh probe by an ‘unbiased’ panel, AoL said that that "no damage was caused to the environment due to the event held in March”. "The ground is now totally levelled, compacted and hardened and is totally devoid of water bodies or depressions and almost completely devoid of any vegetation," the expert committee had on Tuesday told the tribunal. The panel has said that due to the event, the floodplain has lost "almost all its natural vegetation" like trees, shrubs, tall grasses, aquatic vegetation including water hyacinth which provides habitat to large number of animals, insects and mud-dwelling organisms.

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History of this topic

NGT seeks factual report over plea alleging Varanasi Tent City Project violating green norms
2 years ago

NGT seeks factual report over plea alleging Varanasi Tent City Project violating green norms

The Hindu  

The National Green Tribunal has sought a factual report from a panel over allegations that the Tent City project in Varanasi was flouting environmental norms. But before passing any order, it was necessary to seek a factual report from a seven-member joint committee of the national mission for clean Ganga, Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution …

NGT slams Delhi Pollution Control Committee for nod to AoL to hold cultural extravaganza
7 years, 3 months ago

NGT slams Delhi Pollution Control Committee for nod to AoL to hold cultural extravaganza

India TV News  

The National Green Tribunal has slammed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for granting permission to the Art of Living Foundation for holding a three-day cultural extravaganza on the Yamuna floodplains last year, saying it did not act in accordance with the law. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said the DPCC failed to exercise due caution in …

NGT Holds Sri Sri’s Art Of Living Guilty Of Damaging Yamuna, Floodplains; Told To Cough Up Restoration Cost [Read Order]
7 years, 3 months ago

NGT Holds Sri Sri’s Art Of Living Guilty Of Damaging Yamuna, Floodplains; Told To Cough Up Restoration Cost [Read Order]

Live Law  

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living International Center was on Thursday held responsible by the National Green Tribunal for causing damage and environmental degradation of the flood plain of river Yamuna near the DND Flyway by holding the World Culture Festival Celebration in March 2016, which saw a footfall of 35 lakh, and it will now be …

NGT directs DDA to start restoration of Yamuna floodplains 'damaged by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living'
7 years, 3 months ago

NGT directs DDA to start restoration of Yamuna floodplains 'damaged by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living'

India TV News  

NGT directs DDA to start restoration of Yamuna floodplains 'damaged by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living' The green tribunal directed the Delhi Development Authority to utilise Rs 5 crore, paid by the Art of Living Foundation last year as fine, for restoring the floodplains. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living was held responsible for the damage to …

NGT holds Sri Sri’s Art of Living responsible for damage to Yamuna floodplains
7 years, 3 months ago

NGT holds Sri Sri’s Art of Living responsible for damage to Yamuna floodplains

The Hindu  

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday held Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living responsible for the damage to the Yamuna floodplains caused by the holding of the World Culture Festival in 2016. A Bench, headed by panel chairperson Swatanter Kumar, said the Delhi Development Authority should carry out the restoration work of the floodplains after the Art of Living …

NGT issues contempt notice to Sri Sri for blaming Centre for Yamuna floodplain damage
7 years, 11 months ago

NGT issues contempt notice to Sri Sri for blaming Centre for Yamuna floodplain damage

India TV News  

The National Green Tribunal today issued a contempt notice to the Art of Living foundation's Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on a plea against him for blaming the Centre and the green panel for damaging Yamuna floodplains by allowing his NGO to hold a cultural extravaganza. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued the notice to Ravi Shankar …

AOL Blames Govt For Giving Permission To Hold World Culture Festival Near Yamuna
7 years, 11 months ago

AOL Blames Govt For Giving Permission To Hold World Culture Festival Near Yamuna

Live Law  

It has been a little over a year since the World Culture Festival on the banks of river Yamuna caused its degradation, and a fresh round of battle between NGO Art of Living and India’s top green court has begun.“You have no sense of responsibility. It has been a little over a year since the World Culture Festival on the …

Yamuna floodplains damage: NGT shocked by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s remarks
7 years, 11 months ago

Yamuna floodplains damage: NGT shocked by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s remarks

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday slammed the Art of Living over its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar blaming the Centre and the green panel for damage to the Yamuna floodplains, terming it as shocking. The observations came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Manoj Misra, informed the bench about Ravi Shankar’s recent statement blaming the government …

Sri Sri says Art Of Living hasn’t caused damage to Yamuna
7 years, 11 months ago

Sri Sri says Art Of Living hasn’t caused damage to Yamuna

New Indian Express  

Speaking on the issue, the green panel slammed the Art of Living and said that the organisation has no sense of responsibility. Earlier in the month, after the NGT stated that spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living was responsible for destroying the Yamuna floodplain during the 'World Culture Festival', the foundation cried foul while terming it to …

Sri Sri says Art Of Living hasn’t caused damage to Yamuna
7 years, 11 months ago

Sri Sri says Art Of Living hasn’t caused damage to Yamuna

New Indian Express  

Speaking on the issue, the green panel slammed the Art of Living and said that the organisation has no sense of responsibility. Earlier in the month, after the NGT stated that spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living was responsible for destroying the Yamuna floodplain during the 'World Culture Festival', the foundation cried foul while terming it to …

Sri Sri blames govt, NGT for ‘damage’
7 years, 11 months ago

Sri Sri blames govt, NGT for ‘damage’

The Hindu  

Blaming the government and the National Green Tribunal for permitting the Art of Living to hold the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains, founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday said they should be held responsible if any environmental damage was caused. Mr. Shankar said the foundation had obtained all necessary permissions, including from the green panel, and the …

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar blames govt, NGT for damage of Yamuna floodplains
7 years, 11 months ago

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar blames govt, NGT for damage of Yamuna floodplains

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Spiritual figure Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday blamed the government and the National Green Tribunal for permitting his NGO Art of Living to hold the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna river bed and said they should be held responsible if any environmental damage was caused. The AOL head said the foundation had obtained all necessary permissions, …

Art of Living’s Yamuna event: NGT panel says rehabilitation to cost Rs42 crore
7 years, 11 months ago

Art of Living’s Yamuna event: NGT panel says rehabilitation to cost Rs42 crore

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The ecological rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplain, impacted by Art of Living’s three-day cultural event in March last year, would cost Rs42.02 crore, said a seven-member committee in a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday. The committee’s report comes in the wake of a 26 October 2016 order of the NGT, directing it to assess …

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living festival: Yamuna will take 10 years to recover at Rs 13.29 cr
7 years, 11 months ago

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living festival: Yamuna will take 10 years to recover at Rs 13.29 cr

Firstpost  

Rehabilitation of Yamuna floodplains, “destroyed” due to a cultural extravaganza organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living, will cost Rs 13.29 crore and take almost 10 years, an expert committee has told the National Green Tribunal. New Delhi: Rehabilitation of Yamuna floodplains, “destroyed” due to a cultural extravaganza organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living, will …

Art of Living dismisses NGT's panel report on Yamuna riverbed as 'unscientific and illogical'
8 years, 7 months ago

Art of Living dismisses NGT's panel report on Yamuna riverbed as 'unscientific and illogical'

Firstpost  

Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living has termed a National Green Tribunal panel’s report as “unscientific and illogical”, which held that AOL’s three-day “World Cultural Festival” caused damage to the Yamuna riverbed Noida: Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living has termed a National Green Tribunal panel’s report as “unscientific and illogical”, which held that AOL’s three-day “World Cultural Festival” caused …

Art of Living terms NGT panel report 'unscientific, illogical'
8 years, 7 months ago

Art of Living terms NGT panel report 'unscientific, illogical'

Deccan Chronicle  

Noida: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living has termed a National Green Tribunal panel's report, which held that AOL's three-day "World Cultural Festival" caused damage to the Yamuna riverbed, as ‘ unscientific and illogical’. Demanding a fresh probe by an "unbiased" panel, AOL lawyer Kedar Desai and environment expert Prabhakar Rao told a press conference here that "no damage" …

Art of Living Demands Justice After NGT’s ‘Biased’ Expert Report
8 years, 7 months ago

Art of Living Demands Justice After NGT’s ‘Biased’ Expert Report

The Quint  

But lawyers for the petitioners against the World Culture Festival say the area was demarcated as a flood zone by the Delhi Development Authority 25 years ago, and that Art of Living already admitted this when they accepted to pay an initial fee of 5 crore rupees for damage to the area. Petitioners also challenge the foundation’s claims that the …

Art of Living Foundation hints at moving SC against NGT order
8 years, 9 months ago

Art of Living Foundation hints at moving SC against NGT order

The Hindu  

The Art of Living Foundation on Monday refuted the allegations that its three-day mega event had damaged the Yamuna floodplains and hinted that it may approach the Supreme Court against the National Green Tribunal’s order which asked it to pay Rs.5 crore as compensation. The Foundation has deposited Rs.4.75 crore “environment compensation” with the Delhi Development Authority as directed by …

NGT tells Art of Living to pay Rs. 4.75 cr. in a week
8 years, 9 months ago

NGT tells Art of Living to pay Rs. 4.75 cr. in a week

The Hindu  

Miffed by the Art of Living Foundation’s multiple litigation putting a question mark on its bona fide, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday rejected the Foundation’s plea to pay by way of a bank guarantee the Rs. “You can be rest assured that we will not change the expert committee… we may consider adding two more members,” said the NGT. …

NGT directs inspection of Art of Living site on Yamuna to assess damage
8 years, 10 months ago

NGT directs inspection of Art of Living site on Yamuna to assess damage

India TV News  

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the Principal Committee, constituted for rejuvenation of Yamuna, to inspect the site on river floodplains where a three-day festival was organised by Art of Living under the patronage of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered the Principal Committee to assess the damage caused …

NGT directs assessment of damage on Yamuna riverbed by Art of Living fest
8 years, 10 months ago

NGT directs assessment of damage on Yamuna riverbed by Art of Living fest

Firstpost  

The tribunal also asked AOL whether the foundation has deposited the environment compensation as directed by it for damaging Yamuna’s biodiversity New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the Principal Committee, constituted for rejuvenation of Yamuna, to inspect the site on river floodplains where a three-day festival was organised by Art of Living under the patronage of Sri …

The art of ‘cover-up’ on Yamuna floodplain after Ravi Shankar’s event
8 years, 11 months ago

The art of ‘cover-up’ on Yamuna floodplain after Ravi Shankar’s event

Hindustan Times  

Millions of bits of plastic, chunks of carpet, biscuit wrappers and bottles are strewn for miles and enmeshed into the soil at the Yamuna floodplain that hosted the World Culture Festival a month ago, HT found on Saturday. But a closer look punctures claims made by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation that the festival it …

Against all norms
9 years ago

Against all norms

The Hindu  

MAKING a mockery of environmental concerns and brazenly flouting rules and regulations, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “spiritual guru” and founder of The Art of Living Foundation, patronised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his senior Cabinet colleagues, flagged off a three-day mega cultural fiesta, the World Culture Festival, on the floodplains of the Yamuna in Delhi on March 11. Thumbing …

World Culture Festival: After the extravagance come piles of garbage on the Yamuna floodplains
9 years ago

World Culture Festival: After the extravagance come piles of garbage on the Yamuna floodplains

Firstpost  

Heaps of garbage are a common sight at the Yamuna floodplains, where the controversial World Culture Festival was organised by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living Foundation this past weekend New Delhi: Heaps of garbage are a common sight at the Yamuna floodplains, where the controversial World Culture Festival was organised by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art …

Art of Living to set up bio-diversity park at Yamuna floodplain
9 years ago

Art of Living to set up bio-diversity park at Yamuna floodplain

India TV News  

New Delhi: The Art of Living, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, on Monday said it was committed to setting up a bio-diversity park at the Yamuna floodplain. "We are working with environmental experts as per the directions of the to set up the bio-diversity park at Yamuna floodplain. An expert committee comprising senior officials of the Central …

AOL thoughtless environmental destruction: respect for nature is devotion
9 years ago

AOL thoughtless environmental destruction: respect for nature is devotion

The Hindu  

The grandiose spectacle that the >Art of Living Foundation has organised on a thousand-acre site on the floodplain of a river in Delhi to demonstrate ‘humanitarianism’ and the oneness of cultures will go down as a spectacular example of thoughtless environmental destruction. The Central and Delhi governments have, in a display of extraordinary non-application of mind, allowed a private entity …

Fresh plea but no stay on Art of Living event on Yamuna floodplains
9 years ago

Fresh plea but no stay on Art of Living event on Yamuna floodplains

Hindustan Times  

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday refused to give an urgent hearing on a fresh plea seeking a stay on the three-day Art of Living event on the banks of the Yamuna from Friday. The 1,200 feet long, 200 feet wide and 40 feet high stage constructed for Art of Living’s World Culture Festival. The green panel directed the Central …

Art of Living event an ecological disaster, says Delhi high court
9 years ago

Art of Living event an ecological disaster, says Delhi high court

Hindustan Times  

The Delhi high court said on Wednesday Art of Living’s World Cultural Festival is an “ecological disaster”. The NGT on Wednesday slapped an initial fine of Rs.5 crore on spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living, but declined to stay the holding of the World Culture Festival on the fragile Yamuna flood plain. Read: Art of Living gets …

Art of Living gets go ahead for Yamuna bank event, fined Rs 5 crore
9 years ago

Art of Living gets go ahead for Yamuna bank event, fined Rs 5 crore

Hindustan Times  

The National Green Tribunal cleared on Wednesday a mega cultural event on the Yamuna floodplain in Delhi despite fears of irreparable damage to the area’s delicate ecosystem. The green court said spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living foundation will pay a fine of Rs 5 crore before the three-day World Culture Festival opened on Friday. But the …

After Rs. 5 crore fine, nod for Sri Sri event
9 years ago

After Rs. 5 crore fine, nod for Sri Sri event

The Hindu  

Imposing an initial fine of Rs. 5 crore, the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday gave the go-ahead to the ‘World Culture Festival’, a three-day cultural extravaganza being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation on the flood plains of the Yamuna. 5 crore on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation on Wednesday, before giving the …

Sri Sri event to cost Rs 25 crore: Art of Living tells NGT
9 years ago

Sri Sri event to cost Rs 25 crore: Art of Living tells NGT

India TV News  

New Delhi: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living today told the National Green Tribunal that an estimated Rs 25 crore was being spent on the mega cultural event in the national capital, which is currently mired in a spate of controversies. Hearing the matter for the second consecutive day today, the NGT pulled up the MoEF for not filing …

Art of Living event: Has eco-impact been assessed, asks green tribunal
9 years ago

Art of Living event: Has eco-impact been assessed, asks green tribunal

The Hindu  

“Has any of the agencies assessed the environmental impact of the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation’s three-day ‘World Culture Festival’ to be held in the city starting this Friday?” asked the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday. The Tribunal also questioned the Union Environment Ministry as to “why no environmental clearance is required for erecting structures in Yamuna …

Sri Sri event: NGT questions Centre over environmental clearance, hearing to continue tomorrow
9 years ago

Sri Sri event: NGT questions Centre over environmental clearance, hearing to continue tomorrow

India TV News  

New Delhi: In its hearing on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living three-day 'World Culture Festival', the National Green Tribunal today questioned the Centre as to why there wasn't a need of environmental clearance for raising structures in the Yamuna Flood plains. "You file an affidavit by tomorrow and tell us why no environmental clearance is needed for raising …

Art of Living event on Yamuna: NGT questions Centre over environmental clearance
9 years ago

Art of Living event on Yamuna: NGT questions Centre over environmental clearance

The Hindu  

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday questioned the Centre as to why no environmental clearance is required for erecting structures in Yamuna floodplains for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living three-day ‘World Culture Festival’. “You file an affidavit by tomorrow and tell us why no environmental clearance is needed for raising temporary structures in floodplains,” a Bench headed by …

NGT to resume crucial hearing on Art of Living three-day event from Tuesday
9 years ago

NGT to resume crucial hearing on Art of Living three-day event from Tuesday

Firstpost  

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar will hear the matter in which Delhi Development Authority, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi government will make their submissions with regard to grant of permission to the festival. New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal will resume a crucial hearing on Tuesday on pleas seeking cancellation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living …

Green panel raps DDA for fest plan on Yamuna banks
9 years ago

Green panel raps DDA for fest plan on Yamuna banks

The Hindu  

Arguments presented by the Delhi Development Authority on Thursday for granting permission to hold spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ‘World Culture Festival’ on the banks of the Yamuna earned it a sharp rap from the National Green Tribunal. The Tribunal, which is hearing the arguments on a day-to-day basis on a petition filed by environmentalist Manoj Misra of Yamuna …

Uncertainty hangs over mega event on Yamuna floodplains
9 years ago

Uncertainty hangs over mega event on Yamuna floodplains

The Hindu  

ith just 10 days to go, uncertainty hangs over a giant cultural festival being organised on the floodplains of the Yamuna as experts are divided on whether the event will damage the topography of the area. The World Culture Festival, being organised by the Art of Living Foundation to celebrate its 35th anniversary, will be held between March 11 and …

World Culture Festival Will Make the Yamuna Better: Art of Living
9 years ago

World Culture Festival Will Make the Yamuna Better: Art of Living

The Quint  

Construction for the World Culture Festival, which will take place on the Yamuna Flood Plain between Delhi and Noida, will not cause permanent damage to the Yamuna River, lawyers representing Art of Living said today. The comments came after the hearing of a petition led by Manoj Mishra, of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, and private citizen Anand Arya, requesting that the …

Art of Living event on Yamuna: NGT orders fresh inspection
9 years, 1 month ago

Art of Living event on Yamuna: NGT orders fresh inspection

The Hindu  

The National Green Tribunal on Friday directed a fresh inspection of the site on Yamuna floodplains where a three-day festival is to be organised next month under the patronage of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar constituted an expert committee headed by Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar along …

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