Maharashtra Govt to file case against Lavasa

MUMBAI: Dark clouds seem to be once again looming large over Hindustan Construction Company's ambitious Lavasa Lake City project, as the Maharashtra Government plans to file an environmental violation case against the company in Pune court tomorrow.

"We are preparing documents to file a case against Lavasa Corporation for violating Environment (Protection) Act 1986. Most probably, we will file a case against the company tomorrow," State Environment Minister Sanjay Devtale told PTI here on Monday.

"We will send a detailed report to the Environment Ministry after filing a case against the company (Lavasa Corporation)," he said.

On June 10, the Union Environment Ministry had asked the Maharashtra Government to take necessary action against the Lavasa Corporation, as a part of its construction has been undertaken without a green nod.

In a letter to the Maharashtra Government, the Union Ministry said that during an appraisal of request for green clearance for the development of 2,000 hectares Hill Station Township "it was found that constructions/developments in 681 hectare area was in progress without obtaining prior environmental clearance."

Noting that it had earlier issued show-cause notices on November 25 last year and "final directions" on January 17 this year, the Ministry said the constructions/developments in the 681 hectare area "are violations" of Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

The action comes even as the Environment Ministry prepares to make known its decision on the Phase-I of the controversial project on June 15, when the matter comes up in the Bombay High Court.