Dear Editor,
This is to bring to your notice several errors in the IANS report that appeared on ScoopWhoop (Art Of Living Says They’re Unable To Pay Rs. 4.75 Cr Fine For Damaging Yamuna Floodplains) and we would be grateful if you could set the record straight.
First and foremost, the NGT did not slap a fine of Rs. 5 crore on The Art of Living. The Tribunal in its interim order dated March 11, 2016 has categorically stated, "We make it clear that we have imposed a sum of Rs. 5 cr initially as an 'environmental compensation' in exercise of our jurisdiction in terms of section 15 & 17 of the NGT Act and not a penalty (fine) in terms of section 26 of the NGT Act.
Secondly, Mr. Manoj Mishra's lawyer Parikh suggests that The Art of Living has no intention of paying the environmental compensation and is accusing us of dilly dallying. This statement has no value as the case is in court and any 'intention' is of no value. The organization is challenging the expert committee's arrival at an arbitrary figure of Rs.5 crore based on an initial and mere visual assessment of the floodplains as it was being prepared for the festival. There was no scientific assessment to arrive at that figure. So how did they?
Thirdly, the Art of Living did not prevent the expert panel from visiting the floodplains. The inspection team arrived unannounced at the venue two days before the Art of Living handed over the land to the DDA. In a letter dated April 1, 2016, which the inspection team had written to the NGT court, they clearly state that they would begin their work only once The Art of Living vacates the land and hands it back to the DDA. However, they arrived with big JCB machines without informing anybody and especially before the land had been handed over by us to the DDA. Once we reminded them of the court proceedings and their own letter pertaining to it, they decided that they would postpone their inspection till we had vacated the land. Finally, yes, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar did say that he would rather go to jail than pay the fine till he was informed that it was not a fine but an environmental compensation. For we have done no wrong and why should one not protest against false allegations made against him? Especially a spiritual Guru who teaches all to stand up for what is right. The Art of Living vehemently maintains that it in no way flouted the law. The DDA legally permitted the organization to host the World Culture Festival, on the floodplains of the Yamuna with guidelines that were strictly adhered to.
