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The Big Picture - World Culture Festival: NGT order, defiance, outcome

Recently the world cultural festival was held on the banks of river Yamuna. The event had triggered a controversy due to the location of the event and its harmful effect to ecologically fragile Yamuna flood plains. However after lots of dramatic turnarounds National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowed the event to take place with the fine of Rs 5 crores and said that all government authorities have failed to fulfil their duties.

Issues involved and way forward:

• The green signal by NGT after imposing a fine may set a dangerous precedent in future. A proper environment impacts needs to be made way before the event is sanctioned than rushing at the last hour.
• To avoid such future incidents environment ministry should come up with strict guide lines for holding such mega events.
• The use of army for a private event also has been criticised. However army intellectuals are of the view that Jawans will get hands on training for constructing pontoon bridges which they anyway going to build in the academy for training purposes.
• Given the enormity of the World cultural festival the cancellation of the event was not on cards for NGT. However it has ordered for quick measures needed to be taken up for restoration of sensitive flood plains soon after the event.