The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday slammed Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for blaming the central government and the green panel for the Yamuna damage.

"Just because you have filed an application, who gives you the liberty to say what you want. You have no sense of responsibility," NGT Chairperson Swatantra Kumar said.

The comments came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Manoj Misra, told the bench about Ravi Shankar's statement blaming the government and the NGT for permitting the AoL to hold the World Culture Festival on Yamuna floodplains last year.

A seven-member expert committee, headed by former Secretary of Water Resources Ministry Shashi Shekhar, says the festival has caused ecological damage caused to over 300 acres of floodplains.

Ravi Shankar hit back, saying the authorities should have never given permission to hold the Festival if the Yamuna was "so fragile and pure".

He said the fine should be levied on the NGT as well as the central and Delhi governments for giving permission to hold the event. 

NGT has told Ravi Shankar to reply to the quantification of the reports within a week. He has two weeks to file objections. The next hearing is on May 9.

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