‘Yamuna floodplains yet to recover a year after culture fest’

Art of Living foundation’s World Culture Festival altered natural vegetation on the site, which may take 10 years to restore, say environmental experts

New Delhi: 09/03/2016: Preparation is in full swing for World Cultural Festival on the banks of Yamuna river, in New Delhi on Wednesday . Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

Green grass dotted with patches of weeds and tracts of sand cover the site on the Yamuna floodplains that hosted a controversial cultural festival last year.

Though greenery has slowly started to return to the site, environmentalists say vegetation natural to the area will take years before it takes root again.

Raging debate

Organised by the Art of Living, the foundation headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the World Culture Festival, held between March 11 and 13 last year, was at the heart of a debate around environmental protection.

Environmentalist and convener of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan Manoj Misra had unsuccessfully petitioned the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the massive festival, complete with a 7-acre stage, from taking place on the floodplains.

While the NGT did allow the show to go on, it appointed an expert committee to look into the matter and give recommendations with regard to restoration of the site.

NGT order pending

According to the seven-member committee, it could take as long as 10 years to fully restore the biological conditions at the site.

The Tribunal, however, is yet to give its order.

Professor C.R. Babu of Delhi University, who is a member of the committee, said the panel had submitted a report. He, however, refused to comment on its contents or the case.

The next hearing is on April 20.

The site of the festival, meanwhile, remains affected over a year later.

Foundation denies charges

The Art of Living, on its part, has accused the expert committee of leaking the report. In a statement, it said the foundation had worked to preserve the environment.

Vikrant Tongad, a water conservationist and founder of Social Action for Forest and Environment, said activity at the site, including footfall of lakhs of people and the use of heavy machinery, had altered it.

Natural filtration hit

“The moisture level has reduced because of the footfall. The sand has become hard, like a playground. There has been loss of vegetation as a result of the reduction of moisture. The vegetation is returning now, but it is not the natural vegetation of the area,” he said.

Since soil from outside was brought in to compact the site, the natural filtration of water was hit.“The groundwater table is not getting recharged in the same way. It’s taking longer for water to seep in. A natural flood in the monsoon might help speed up restoration,” the water conservationist added.

Habitat of birds hit

Another environmentalist, who did not wish to be named since the matter is sub judice , said it could take years to restore the ecological balance.

“There are no birds there as the tall grass that was their habitat is gone. It has become like a cricket ground,” the environmentalist added.