It was not a great day for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Delhi Police and Fire Department, Union Ministries of Environment and Water Resources as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pointed out on Wednesday that “all these authorities have failed to exercise due diligence in fulfilment of their public duties.”
Pronouncing its verdict on a plea seeking a stop on ongoing construction at the Yamuna floodplains for the Art of Living’s World Cultural Festival, a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar noted: “The DPCC has failed to discharge its statutory obligation despite the fact that the Foundation had submitted an application for obtaining its consent.”
Expressing its displeasure over how the entire operation had been handled, the Bench noted that a committee with representatives from the DPCC, the Ministry of Environment and the Central Pollution Control Board will immediately inspect the site and issue directions by tomorrow (Thursday) with regard to the source of water, collection and disposal of municipal solid waste and sewage generated during the event, besides issuing directions to ensure that there is no future environmental degradation or adverse impact on public health.
“They shall also issue directions with regard to the source of water and power and its utilisation thereof,” the Bench noted.
Hauling up Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s AOL, the NGT added that the information provided by the Foundation was “incomplete, vague and uncertain since it did not provide any specific data, supporting documents, comprehensive plan with regard to carrying on of such a huge construction, levelling activity and also construction of other approach roads, pontoon bridges, ramps, parking and a huge stage measuring 40 feet high, 1,000 feet long and 200 feet wide to any of the authorities”.
Earlier during the day, the Tribunal had severely criticised the Ministry of Environment for allowing construction on the banks of the Yamuna for the mega event.
