New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the World Culture Festival organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living on March 11 in Delhi, sources said on Wednesday.
The news of his participation emerged just hours after the National Green Tribunal gave a go ahead to the three-day event despite concerns raised by environmentalists holding it on the Yamuna flood plains.
The Tribunal however came down heavily on Art of Living for not disclosing its full plans and also imposed a fine of Rs 5 crore on the foundation.
The NGT said that Art of Living will develop the entire area into biodiversity and will file undertaking that within two weeks. The organisation has been asked to pay balance amount for restoration.
The Tribunal also asked Art of Living to give undertaking by Thursday that enzymes won't be released into Yamuna and no further degradation of environment will happen.
The Tribunal has fined the Delhi Development Authority of Rs 5 lakh. The NGT said the permission granted by DDA was very vague and it cannot be termed a recreation activity. The DDA has neither conducted inspection prior to granting permission or after that, the Tribunal added.
There was a question mark over the Prime Minister's participation in the event after the Special Protection Group cited security concerns over the stage.
Invitation cards for the event earlier said the PM was scheduled to inaugurate the WCF on Friday, and President Pranab Mukherjee to address the closing ceremony on Sunday. The President pulled out of the event citing prior engagements.
The Art of Living foundation, which is organising the function, will have yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers by Sanskrit scholars and traditional cultural performances from around the world.
The three-day event will be held from March 11-13 on the west bank of Yamuna to celebrate 35 years of The Art of Living foundation.
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