Lavasa city denied green clearance

Environment ministry asks state government to first take credible action against existing violations
Published on

The Maharashtra government’s reluctance to initiate action against the developers of Lavasa has cost India’s first planned hill city the mandatory environmental clearance. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in an order issued on October 13, says environmental clearance cannot be granted to the project till the state government takes “credible action” against it for the violations of environmental laws.  

MoEF had stopped the work on the construction site of Lavasa in November last year in the absence of a proper environmental clearance and for violation of  environmental laws. The company challenged the ministry’s order in the Bombay High court and applied to the ministry for a post-facto clearance of the project in February this year.

The ministry had set a few pre-conditions for the clearance of the project, including  “credible action” by the state government for violation of environmental laws (see 'Pre-conditions for clearance').

Pre-conditions for clearance

•  Credible action by the state government for violation of environmental laws

•  A resolution from the board of Lavasa that the company will not repeat the violations

•  The scale and intensity of development of the hill town shall be as per Hill Station Regulations

•  At least 5 per cent of the total cost of the project shall be earmarked for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Lavasa shall commit to earmark the fund for the penalty decided by the ministry
 
Gulabchandand complains of unfair treatment

Related Stories

No stories found.
Down To Earth
www.downtoearth.org.in