AMN /
Just a few hours before the World Culture Festival in the national capital, National Green Tribunal (NGT) today asked Art of Living (AOL) an orgaanisation of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to pay Rs 25 lakh today and granted 3 weeks’ time to pay remaining Rs 4.75 crore of the fine. The Tribunal said if AOL fails to pay Rs 25 lakh today, then grant of Rs 2.5 crore by govt will be attached.
Earlier, the Art of Living moved an application saying it needed time to deposit the money and to comply with all tribunal directions. The AOL has said that it is a charitable organisation and it is difficult for it to generate Rs 5 crore in a short period.
The NGT had warned AOL that action would be taken if the fine is not paid by this evening. A fine of Rs 5 crore was imposed on the organisers as environmental compensation. The Tribunal also directed all concerned authorities to ensure all precautions and added that they should ensure no pollution is done to river bed.
The Tribunal also took strong objection to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s earlier refusal to pay fine and said that when a person of that stature makes such statements, it hits rule of law. It pulled up Ministry of Water Resources for not doing anything to protect Yamuna from pollution despite directions. The NGT asked the Centre and AOL if Rs 2.5 crore grant has been released to the foundation by Culture ministry.
The three-day international cultural festival is set to begin on the banks of Yamuna in Delhi this evening. The event is being organized by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living foundation. About 35 lakh people from across the globe including 36 thousand artists are expected to participate in the mega cultural extravaganza. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the World Cultural Festival.