It's absolutely ridiculous to say we are destroying Yamuna: Sri Sri Ravishankar

New Delhi: Sri Sri Ravishankar has come out strongly against allegations that the World Culture Festival being organised by the Art of Living has destroyed Yamuna floods plains.

Speaking with Zee News, Sri Sri said that it's foolish to say that his organisation has destroyed the Yamuna.

The noted spiritual leader claimed that the site between Noida and Delhi where a massive stage has been constructed was full of construction debris when Art of Living volunteers first arrived in the area last December.

“It was not a fragile ecosystem, there was no grass, it was so toxic, the area was stinking,” he said while pointing out that the entire area was cleaned by volunteers of his organisation.

On the National Green Tribunal's proposal to impose a fine on his organisation, Sri Sri said, “They should reward us and appreciate our initiative.”

Ravishankar stressed that all the construction carried out in the spot was temporary in nature, adding that it was too late in the day to cancel the event – scheduled to start on March 11.

He also said that main aim behind holding the event on the banks of Yamuna was to bring attention to massive pollution in one of India's holiest rivers.