Environment ministry asks Maharashtra government to take action against Lavasa
10 Jun 2011
The environment ministry today directed Maharashtra government to take action against Lavasa Corporation for violation of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Lavasa is a subsidiary of Hindustan Construction Company.
The ministry said that while building the first phase of its hill town project near Pune, Lavasa started illegal construction on 681 hectares of land without getting environmental clearance.
The project proposal submitted to the environment ministry for clearance of the first phase of the hill station project comprised an area of 2000 hectares.
"However, during the process of appraisal and also based on site visit, the committee headed by Naresh Dayal has found that constructions/developments in 681 hectare was already in progress without obtaining environmental clearance under EIA Notification 2006," the letter from the ministry said.
The ministry said it had earlier issued a show-cause notice on 25 November 2010 and final directions on 17 January 2011.
"The above constructions/developments are violations of Environment Protection act," it added.
The ministry has asked the state government to take necessary action under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and inform the ministry of the action taken against the firm.
