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').
