Environment ministry refuses green clearance to Lavasa

New Delhi: Holding that Lavasa has not complied with pre-conditions, Environment Ministry Friday refused to grant a green clearance to the first phase of its Hill City project near Pune, till all criteria are met.

The Ministry also said the final decision on environmental clearance to the Rs 3,000 crore project would be taken based on the Maharashtra Government’s “credible action” on the issue and “subject to the final orders of the High Court of Bombay as the matter is sub-judice”.

The Ministry’s new order came after the Bombay High Court last month directed it to pass the final order on the regularisation application of Lavasa Corporation, with regard to constructions at its township project near Pune, in three weeks.

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“As the pre condition on the credible action on violation of EIA Notification, 2006 has not been complied with, the Ministry is unable to issue the Environmental Clearance to the first phase of Hill City project (2000 ha) of M/s LCL,” the Ministry said in its order.

“The final decision on the Environmental Clearance cannot be taken till all the pre conditions are met including credible action by the State Government of Maharashtra and subject to the final orders of the High Court of Bombay as the matter is sub-judice,” the order said.

The Ministry also refused to accept Lavasa Chairman Ajit Gulabchand’s contention before Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, that construction had begun in some other projects prior to obtaining environmental clearance.

PTI