Project to get green nod soon: MoEF

The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on Monday said the final order to grant post-facto environmental clearance to Lavasa hill station would be passed soon.

The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on Monday said the final order to grant post-facto environmental clearance to Lavasa hill station would be passed soon.

HT Image

Additional solicitor general DJ Khambata told the Bombay high court the final order would be passed by September 23, when a petition filed by Lavasa Corporation Ltd, which is developing the hill station, is listed for further hearing.

The company had challenged the MoEF order of January 17, declaring that the hill station project had been taken up without obtaining the mandatory green nod from the Centre.

On May 31, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the ministry recommended post-facto clearance for the first phase of the hill station spread over 2,000 hectares. The EAC has recommended the clearance subject to 34 conditions.

Counsel for the company, Shekhar Naphade, on Monday, said in accordance with their own notification, the MoEF is required to pass final orders on recommendations made by the

EAC within 45 days of its receipt, and it gives liberty to the applicants to go ahead with its project if the ministry fails to do so.

Khambata, on the other hand, clarified that the delay was caused as the company itself had sought a personal hearing, which was given on August 5. He then sought three weeks time to pass the final order.