Environment Ministry asks Lavasa to give more info

The Environment Ministry today asked real estate developer Lavasa Corporation Ltd to submit tomorrow more details about its Rs 3,000-crore hill project near Pune which allegedly violated green norms.

The Environment Ministry today asked real estate developer Lavasa Corporation Ltd to submit tomorrow more details about its Rs 3,000-crore hill project near Pune which allegedly violated green norms.

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At a meeting held in response to the Ministry's show-cause notice slapping a ban on further construction at the hill project, Lavasa officials gave a presentation on the various steps being taken at the site for environment protection.

However, not satisfied with the details submitted, the Environment Ministry has asked the firm to submit more information on the impact of the project in the region as well documents.

Sources said besides Lavasa and Environment Ministry officials, representatives from National Alliance for People's Movement led by Medha Patkar were also present at the meeting called by the Ministry as directed by the Bombay High Court.

During the meeting, Patkar's NGO reiterated its allegation that the project has come up in violation of various notifications issued by the state as well the Environment Ministry.

The meeting was held in the wake of the Bombay High Court order issued on December 7 which had stayed the Ministry's order on putting a ban on construction of the project and asking it to hear the firm promoted by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC).

It also asked the Ministry to file a reply before it by December 16, the next date for hearing of the case.

Lavasa has alleged in the high court that the show cause notice issued on November 25, objecting to further developments at the site, was issued "in haste and without following the principles of natural justice".

Lavasa's petition said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was "biased and had prejudged the matter by issuing the notice without giving a hearing to the company".

In its 66-page petition, Lavasa has defended the development of the hill station saying it was need of the hour as there is tremendous pressure on existing ones in the state.

The petition also submitted the state government had granted it environmental clearance on March 18, 2004, after considering the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report of NEERI. They also received a go-ahead from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board in 2005, it added.