India's controversial cultural festival begins despite environmental concerns

A huge private cultural festival on the floodplains of River Yamuna in India's capital city began despite environmental concerns and controversies.

The three-day "World Cultural Festival" organized by India's spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar opened up Friday evening as per schedule with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi present during the inaugural ceremony.

"India has the cultural heritage that the entire world looks for. We can satisfy that need of the world in some measure. But this can happen only when we take pride in this heritage," Modi said in his address at the festival.

Being the chief guest, Modi spent about two hours at the festival and watched music and dance performances.

India's environment court National Green Tribunal Wednesday directed the organizers of the event to pay a fine of 744,262 U.S. dollars as compensation for the environmental damage the event is likely to cause to the floodplains.

However, the tribunal Friday extended a concession to foundation asking them to pay 5 percent of the fine ahead of event and deposit the remaining amount in three weeks time.

The court's direction came after foundation submitted to the tribunal it needed more time to generate the money.

Initially Shankar had indicated that it would not pay even "a penny" as fine.

"We have done nothing wrong. I will go to jail but not pay the fine," he told reporters.

The spiritual leader said his organization would clean up the riverbanks and leave no debris once the festival concludes.

Non-governmental organizations and environmentalists had petitioned to the environmental watchdog seeking cancellation of the festival on the ground that it would wreak havoc to the area's biodiversity and riverbed's fragile environment.

Environmental activists said sprawling construction of roads, ramps and pontoon bridges, besides installing vast tents would irreparably damage the river's floodplains and fragile ecosystem.

However, the foundation denies it has caused damage to the area.

The event apart from raising environmental concerns triggered a controversy over involvement of Indian army troops into organizing the private event.

The government had to face noisy protests in the parliament house (country's lawmaking body) with the opposition parties demanding why the event was being allowed on the riverbed and why the official resources like the army was roped in to help organize a private event.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee who was scheduled to be present at the closing ceremony has decided not to attend the festival apparently due to environmental concerns.

The festival would conclude on Sunday.

Organizers said 3.5 million visitors are expected to attend the event from 150 countries.

The festival was being held across 1,000 acres of the river bank featuring vast stage for 35,000 musicians and dancers.

The huge rush of people to the festival led to heavy traffic snarls Friday evening, with serpentine rows of cars seen on many roads across the capital. Endit