MoEF tells HC it accepts panel report on Lavasa

MUMBAI: The ministry of environment and forests ( MoEF) told the Bombay high court on Wednesday that it accepted a March 3 recommendation by the expert appraising committee to permit completion of 257 buildings in Lavasa subject to several stringent conditions.

Lavasa Corporation in turn said it wanted to withdraw its petition against the MoEF, questioning its jurisdiction. But things did not go Lavasa's way when the HC said the ministry's January 17 status quo order on Lavasa that had brought construction to a standstill should be maintained even if the company were to withdraw its petition.

Lavasa, unwilling to contend with an adverse order, said it did not wish to withdraw its writ petition. As a result, the HC which had been inclined to allow Lavasa to withdraw its petition, will now hear the matter in due course on merits.

Along with a petition by Lavasa, the HC was hearing another by a public interest litigant and an intervener, both against Lavasa. In return, Lavasa said environmental clearance was necessary for the hill station project and that it would pursue the issue with the ministry. It therefore wanted to withdraw its petition instead of pursuing the legal battle.