On Wednesday, an environmental court has said the grand three day cultural fest held by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has created damage that will take 10 years to be cleaned up.
Experts from the environment court have visited the area where the fest was held last year. In a report filed, the environmentalists said restoring the floodplain will take almost Rs. 13 crores and about ten years of time. This report was submitted to the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday, which did not go well with the Art of Living Foundation. This foundation has been founded and headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shanker.
The report said, “We have been victims of a conspiracy. And we will fight for the truth to come out. We have never caused any damage to the environment but have in fact worked for preserving and reviving it through various environment-related projects over the years.” Last year, before the event started environmentalists approached the court to not allow this ‘World Cultural Festival.. But the court issued that it was too late to call off the event and fined them Rs. 5 crores.
Originally a committee formed by a court recommended the foundation be charged Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 crores for the damage the event created. The new committee formed said that the three day event has completely destroyed the natural vegetation in the area.
These reports, however, have been rejected by Sri Sri, who said that the court should be happy for conducting an international level festival. That this event brought to notice the pollution in the Yamuna River and initiated action towards its cleaning.
