The National Green Tribunal on Thursday issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi government, the police chief and Asaram Bapu's trust on a petition seeking direction to demolish an alleged illegal 'ashram' constructed by the self-styled godman in the ridge area in New Delhi.
The National Green Tribunal's website on Monday came under cyber attack with a grouping hacking it and posting profanities, claiming it was an act of "revenge" against Indian army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control.
In its petition, PETA has contended that manja posed a grave threat to humans and animals as every year a number of deaths are caused by it.
The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday sought Art of Living head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's reply on an application which alleged the spiritual guru had termed its earlier order as "politically motivated".
Delhi Police on Wednesday impounded around 100 vehicles in compliance with the National Green Tribunal's order putting a ban on plying of diesel-run vehicles of more than 10 years old in the national capital.
The observations came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Manoj Misra, informed the bench about Ravi Shankar's recent statement blaming the government and the NGT for permitting his NGO to hold the World Culture Festival on the floodplains of river Yamuna.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the ministry of environment and forests as to what they have done in the matter to control the situation.
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose on Saturday once again sounded defiant, saying he will not pay any fine or penalty.
The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the principal committee, constituted for rejuvenation of Yamuna, to inspect the site on river floodplains where a three-day festival was organised by Art of Living under the patronage of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The NGT directed the Delhi govt not to implement the scheme unless it established that it was not counter-productive.
The Delhi government said that it is not ready "to compromise with the safety of women".
The government sought exemption of women drivers from the scheme, saying it may affect the safety and security of women.
The green panel ordered removal of iron grills in front of the ice stalagmite resembling the 'Shiva Linga' so that devotees could get a better view of it and said there should be no noise pollution near the sacred structure.
Cracking the whip on those polluting Yamuna, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday passed a slew of directions including a fine of Rs 5,000 on individuals spotted throwing waste or religious items in the river as it unveiled a plan for its restoration.
The green panel has also asked the city government to identify the most polluted areas on Tuesday itself and sprinkle water.
The NGT, however, refused to impose any further environment compensation on the AoL.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that due silence has to be maintained only in front of the ice stalagmite resembling the 'ShivaLinga'.
The National Green Tribunal has stayed ban on diesel car for two weeks.
It pulled up the Delhi government for its plan to introduce 6,000 new buses without conducting any study or research.
There is a total of 590,000 private and commercial diesel vehicles registered with Delhi Transport Department and out of them, there are 121,000 commercial vehicles and 161,000 private vehicles including cars, jeep, tractors, which are more than 10 years old
However, the NGT expressed its displeasure over the spiritual guru's statement that he 'will go to prison but not pay the fine' and said such a statement was not expected from a person with such high stature.
The tribunal said the AOL has been engaging in multiple litigations in order to not pay the fine.
Other Graded Response Action Plan measures like ban on diesel generators, hot mix plants, stone crushers and brick kilns, however, continue to remain in place.
The 'World Culture Festival' extravaganza organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living on Yamuna has "completely destroyed" the riverbed, an expert committee has told by the National Green Tribunal.
The National Green Tribunal has refused to order demolition of the Siri Fort Sports Complex, including its squash and badminton courts, in Delhi, but held that the entire complex and its various constructed portions would not be put to any kind of commercial use or non-sport activities.
The NGT has asked the Centre to respond to the plea of an environment enthusiast alleging that large-scale burning of municipal solid waste in Agra was turning the Taj Mahal yellow.
The NGT also constituted a committee to oversee the execution of work pertaining to cleaning of the river.
Under interim measures, there will be no renewal of registration of diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old.
The green tribunal noted that the Art of Living would have to pay a Rs 5 crore penalty and develop the entire area into a biodiversity zone.
The stage is now set for the controversial three-day cultural event opening on Friday on the Yamuna flood plains even as Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar struck a defiant note that he will not pay Rs 5 crore fine imposed by Green Tribunal and would rather go to jail.
'The size or economic potential of no event can be a valid excuse to break the law of the land.'
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday reluctantly admitted before the National Green Tribunal that illegal sand mining was going on in the state and not even a single environmental clearance had been granted for it in Gautam Budh Nagar district.
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