The Environment Ministry today asked the Maharashtra Government to act against Lavasa Corporation for the violation of the green norms while constructing its hill station project near Pune.
Lavasa Corp, a subsidiary of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), is setting up the Hill Station Township and had sought environmental clearance for the first phase of project spread over 2,000 hectares.
In a letter to the Maharashtra Government, the Ministry said: “During the process of appraisal and also based on the site visit by the committee headed by Mr Naresh Dayal, it was found that constructions/ developments in 681 hectares was in progress without obtaining prior environmental clearance under EIA Notification 2006.”
The Ministry, which had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Lavasa on November 25 last year and final directions on January 17 this year, said, “the above constructions/developments were violations of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.”
On Friday, the Ministry asked the State Government to initiate “necessary action under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 against the violation of the Act” and report the action taken at the earliest.
The Ministry's latest action comes even as it prepares to submit its decision on the Phase I of the project to the Bombay High Court on June 15. The Ministry's decision will be based on the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), which has reportedly recommended a conditional approval for the project.
According to reports, Chairman and Managing Director of HCC, Mr Ajit Gulabchand, said in Mumbai that the EAC has recommended clearances for Lavasa's first phase of 2,000 hectares hill project with “some conditions”.
“We welcome the recommendations of the Ministry of Environment and Forests appointed Expert Appraisal Committee,” Lavasa said in a statement.