Sri Sri’s AOL Pays Rs 4.75 Cr as Penalty for Yamuna Plain Damages
The NGT had imposed a fine of Rs 5 crore on AOL for hosting the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation (AOL) has deposited a compensation of Rs 4.75 crore through a demand draft on 3 June.
The National Green Tribunal had ordered AOL to pay the remaining Rs 4.75 crore as penalty for hosting the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna flood plain. According to a principal committee appointed by the tribunal, damages included flattening and clearing of a 1000-acre area.
Prior to the World Cultural Festival, AOL had told NGT they did not have enough money to pay Rs 5 crore in compensation. An initial 25 lakh was paid, and the organisation agreed to pay the remaining Rs 4.75 crore a month after the event.
Earlier, lawyers for the foundation requested to make the payment in the form of a bank guarantee as opposed to a direct payment, which was struck down by Justice Swatanter Kumar during court proceedings on 31 March.
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