Green signal: How the sequence of cultural festival unfolded
As Art of Living completed 35 years and decided to celebrate it in a grand manner, accused of destroying eco-system.
March 7: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday decided not attend the mega cultural festival by the Art of Living’s Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after it led to a massive controversy and environmental concerns were raised in several quarters.
March 8: With the National Green Tribunal posing tough questions to the Centre, suspense over the fate of ‘World Culture Festival’ deepened on Tuesday.
March 9: The NGT on Wednesday allowed the Art of Living to go ahead with its World Culture Festival as a “fait accompli” while imposing strict penalties and censures on the foundation, including an order that Rs 5 crore be deposited as environment compensation before the start of the event.
March 10: Art of Living’s founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sounded defiant on Thursday saying he would rather go to jail than pay the Rs 5-crore fine imposed by the NGT.
March 11: After a show of bravado, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar bowed before the NGT and agreed to comply with its order to pay the interim compensation of '5 crore for environmental damage to the Yamuna flood plains.