The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday came down hard on the Delhi Development Authority, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments, ahead of the Art of Living festival scheduled to start on March 11. The hearing at the green court comes after an NGT panel recommended fining the Art of Living Foundation Rs 120 crore for damaging the Yamuna floodplains and ecosystem, as well as surrounding farmlands. The foundation's World Culture Festival is scheduled to take place from March 11 to 13.

A seven-acre stage was constructed for the event over the floodplains in East Delhi – the largest temporary stage in the world – along with tents, hutments, barricades and pontoon bridges. The entire site for the festival covers more than 1,000 acres. Around 35 lakh people are likely to attend the event, which is a 35th anniversary celebration. Art of Living has 155 centres across the world.

The NGT on Tuesday asked Uttar Pradesh’s counsel with what authority the state had given permission for parking area, and asked how much money had been spent to clean up debris from the construction. It also asked why no cognisance was taken when pictures of debris from construction came in. The Delhi government however said it had not given police or fire permission for the festival. The DDA also claimed it had given permission for a smaller festival that would have 3.5-5 lakh visitors. The tribunal also criticised the environment ministry for not intervening, and asked for a response from the ministry of water resources.

Art of Living counsel and Sri Sri Ravishankar however stoutly defended themselves. Ravishankar on Tuesday claimed that not a single tree had been cut down, and promised that the foundation will leave the venue a "beautiful bio-diversity park" after the festival. The foundation's counsel also backtracked in front of the green tribunal, and said it expected only 2 to 3 lakh visitors, though its factsheet said 35 million people were expected.

On Monday, President Pranab Mukherjee, who was scheduled to address the festival on its final day, cancelled his attendance, while reports on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to skip the event as well. Hindustan Times reported that the NGT panel’s report said, “The floodplain has been destroyed; the natural vegetation consisting of reeds, and trees have been completely removed”. Just last year, the NGT prohibited harmful construction activity on the floodplains. The report also said that several species of wildlife and vegetation had disappeared after the construction began.

Delhi’s Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra had earlier said he did not see the problem with holding such a large-scale event by the Yamuna, and that it would sensitise people to the environment. Art of Living said it went ahead with construction for the event only after receiving permission from the Delhi Development Authority, which later said it did not know of the festival's scale.

The NGT is likely to give its verdict on the case on Wednesday.