NGT to decide fate of Art of Living's World Culture Festival'
9 March 2016 9:53 AM IST9 March 2016 9:53 AM IST
The function expected to be attended by a crowd of about 3.5 million to five million people.
The NGT also raised questions over the building of a pontoon bridge by the Army on the river. (Photo: PTI)- The function expected to be attended by a crowd of about 3.5 million to five million people. A series of petitions have been filed demanding its cancellation due to concern over the potential permanent damage to the riverbed.
- The Delhi government, DDA and the environment ministry said that they have no relation with the grant of permission for setting up the bridge as they were handling different issues. While the DDA defended itself by saying it was required only to give a “no objection†certificate for the bridge, the Delhi government submitted that its role comes only at the time of flood while the MoEF put the onus on the ministry of water resources.
- The NGT also raised questions over the building of a pontoon bridge by the Army on the river. The green body has sought a response from the environment and forests ministry after its counsel said they found no debris at the site when an expert team visited, and that the environment impact assessment notification of 2006 did not mandate any environment clearance for temporary structures.
- In a separate development, in the wake of fresh terror threats, the home ministry directed the Delhi police to take all possible steps to ensure peace during the event and to make sure no stampede-like situation arises. The Art of Living Foundation said that due to security issues, the National Security Guards had taken over the venue.
- The NGT, that is hearing a petition seeking a ban on the extravagant event to mark the 35th anniversary of the foundation, will pronounce its order Wednesday.
- With the National Green Tribunal (NGT) posing tough questions to the Centre and raising some environmental concerns, the suspense over the fate of the Art of Living's controversial “World Culture Festival†deepened on Tuesday amid speculation on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the three-day event that begins on Friday.
The NGT also raised questions over the building of a pontoon bridge by the Army on the river. (Photo: PTI)
The function expected to be attended by a crowd of about 3.5 million to five million people.
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