NGT pulls up DDA for remarks

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday rapped the Delhi Development Authority for casting aspersions on the findings of its expert committee on the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplains due to the three-day cultural event organised by Art Of Living (AOL).

Warning that action will be taken against those who would pass strictures on the findings of the expert panel, the green panel questioned the DDA for granting a nod to AOL, despite three initial rejections. The bench was expressing anguish over the statement of the DDA counsel that the report had been prepared by the expert members in such a manner that it would ensure their involvement with the issue of the Yamuna floodplains for 10 years.

Reacting to the submissions of the DDA counsel, the bench said, “It is not fair. You make sweeping statements about the members of the expert panel. You are casting aspersions; tell us how much time your engineers will take to restore the damaged area. Ask your chief engineer.” It said that the civic body should have exercised proper caution while granting approval to the cultural extravaganza.

The lawyer for AOL claimed that none of the terms and conditions imposed by DDA while granting permission for the World Culture Festival, held in March last year, were violated or misused. The tribunal took exception to the submission of the counsel for DDA for questioning the conclusions of the seven-member expert panel.

“How can you make such a sweeping statement about people who have devoted their life to environment? They have put 60 years of life and this is how you treat people. Anybody can err but you can’t make such comments,” the bench said.