Jan. 18: Sending a clear signal to corporate India that the environment ministry means business, the Union minister for environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has accused Lavasa Corporation Ltd (LCL) of unauthorised construction resulting in extensive environmental degradation while building India’s first planned hill resort near Pune.
The ministry of enviroment and forests (MoEF) has ordered that status quo on the Lavasa project remain with LCL not being allowed to undertake any further construction. While submitting an affidavit before the Bombay High Court on Tuesday, the ministry said the violations by LCL were of a serious nature and it was difficult to ignore them despite the fact that the entire project was at an advanced stage.
The ministry did, however, leave a small window of opportunity open to LCL — that if the promoters provided credible material to proceed, the project could be considered on merit. The MoEF is ready to consider the project taking into account the investment already incurred, third-party rights which are accrued, the various steps taken for establishment of a comprehensive hill station, the employment generated and the development of the area.
The terms and conditions that the MoEF has proposed include the payment of a substantial penalty for violation of environmental laws, creation of an environment restoration fund by LCL with a large corpus to be managed by an independent body, imposition of stringent terms and conditions to ensure that no further environmental degradation takes place, and rectification of the degradation that has already occurred.
Tuesday’s order is based on a report filed by an MoEF committee headed by former IAS officer, Mr Naresh Dayal, following a three-day visit to the project site. The panel had received representations from both supporters and those who oppose this project.
Dr Nalini Bhat, adviser to the MoEF impact assessment team, had also heard the complaints of the National Alliance of People’s Movement. She was complained about the massive hill-cutting being undertaken was in violation of the original permission where no hill-cutting had been permitted.