The green panel also directed Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests to issue proper directions to the organizers of the event with regard to disposal of municipal solid waste and drinking water.
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The Prime Minister was supposed to inaugurate the event, being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living.
Earlier, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar defended the event, saying not a single tree has been cut and the ecological stability has been maintained during the preparations.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken said nobody should be allowed to break the law, howsoever big he may be, to hold such a festival without proper environmental clearance from agencies like the police, fire and water authorities and the DPCC.
“All (government) authorities have failed to fulfill their duties”, said the principal bench of Justice Swatanter Kumar, Justice MS Nambiar, Justice DK Agrawal and Justice BS Sajwan. He also said his foundation had worked hard to clean the river and floodplains for the event, and it had not harmed the ecosystem there.
“We have got permissions from more than 30 departments and ministries for this event”. The first shocker was the distressing news that the Defence Ministry had asked Indian Army Jawans to build (pontoon) bridges for a private event on the banks of Yamuna river. “Why don’t you go to the NGT”, the bench said. He urged political parties not to “politicise” the event.
Non-governmental organizations and environmentalists had petitioned to the tribunal seeking cancellation of the festival on the ground that it would wreak havoc to the area’s biodiversity and riverbed’s fragile environment.
In the letter dated February 16, Mishra said, “A large number of people, who will be approaching the venue from Noida Link Road, will be required to cross Yamuna to reach the venue”.
During two days of hearing, NGT posed tough questions over who gave clearance to the “World Cultural Festival” in which 35 lakh people are expected to participate.
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The AOL foundation, which is organising the function, will have yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers by Sanskrit scholars and traditional cultural performances from India and overseas.
