An NGT-appointed committee of experts has said rehabilitation of Yamunafloodplains, “destroyed” due to the three-day World Culture Festival organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar‘s Art of Living(AOL) will cost Rs 13.29 crore and take almost 10 years.
“It has been estimated that approximately 120 hectares (about 300 acres) of floodplains of west (right bank) of the river Yamuna and about 50 hectares (120 acres) floodplains of the eastern side (left bank) of the river have been adversely impacted ecologically at different magnitudes,” it said.
Reacting to the findings of the report, AOL spokesperson Kedar Desai said, “Our legal team will study the report and decide on the appropriate future course of action.”
The committee, in its 47-page report, said that due to the three-day 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.
Last year, the NGT had allowed AOL to hold a three-day ‘World Culture Festival’ of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation on the Yamuna flood plains. At that time, the green panel had expressed its helplessness in banning the event because of “fait accompli”.
It, however, had imposed Rs 5 crore as interim environment compensation on the foundation for the event’s impact on the environment.
