Delhi LG intervenes; permission for organizing Phool Walon Ki Sair granted. Comes out that the permission had been kept pending due to an order dated 28.11.2023 of the then AAP Government prohibiting such festivals in the southern ridge area. LG warns officials against unresponsive and apathetic approach towards people’s issues. Following LG VK Saxena’s intervention, who took a very serious view of reports regarding non-organization of the Phool Walon Ki Sair this year, DDA has granted permission to the Anjuman-Sair-E-Gul-Faroshan to organize the traditional festival at its original venue. DDA’s permission to this effect has been conveyed to the organisers. Subsequently to reports about the festival not being organized due to lack of permission by DDA, the LG directed for the matter to be looked into, wherein it came out that the permission by DDA had been delayed due to a direction on 28.11.2023 by the Department of Forests & Environment, then under the Arvind Kejriwal led AAP Government, prohibiting organizing of such festival in the area (Order of E&F Deptt. attached). It came to the fore that the DDA had been granting permission for organizing the festival regularly till 2023 and even facilitated the organization of Phool Walon Ki Sair in 2024, despite the orders of the AAP Government. However, the organizers this time insisted on a written permission, which was issued after LG’s intervention. The LG, who has been actively promoting this centuries old festival representing Delhi’s syncretic culture, wherein he personally visits the Dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki and the Mata Yogmaya Mandir for the past three years, took serious exception to the centuries old festival being denied permission. Thereafter, the DDA, in light of the fact that Phool Walon Ki Sair is a prestigious event symbolizing Delhi’s heritage and communal harmony, put up the matter for review. Subsequently, after due deliberation, conditional permission to the effect that no harm is done to the environment while holding the festival, was granted. This decision balances the preservation of ecological integrity with the continuation of Delhi’s cultural legacy. Even as the permission has been granted, Saxena has asked for action to be taken against erring officials for their unresponsive and apathetic approach towards the issue. He has reiterated that any official found acting in deterrence to public interest will be punished as per laid down provisions. It may be noted that when the DDA conveyed the permission to the organizers, they said that they will be organizing the festival in February - March next year.