Delhi: Art of Living moves NGT to form fresh panel to inspect site

The site of the World Culture Festival. (Express Photo: Oinam Anand)

The Art of Living Foundation moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monday to constitute a fresh inspection committee to inspect the site on the Yamuna floodplain, where it held the World Culture Festival, and arrive at the final environmental compensation fee.

The tribunal had earlier constituted an expert committee to assess the damage caused to the floodplain due to the festival held in March. On February 20, the expert committee had recommended a Rs 120-crore compensation fee for the environmental impact the event would have on the floodplain.

[related-post]

The counsel representing AOL said, “The committee arrived at an arbitrary figure of Rs 120 crore based on a brief ‘visual’ assessment, without following a scientific process. It has prejudged the issue and is under self-imposed pressure to justify that figure.”

Responding to the plea, the bench said, “What is your problem? You keep on filing applications.” The bench added the committee’s members were “extremely qualified”. However, it agreed to hear AOL’s latest plea Tuesday.