Giving a clear indication that the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) is ready to clear the 5,000 hectares for Lavasa hill city project, environment minister Jairam Ramesh said on Monday that both phases of the project will be considered in the next few weeks.
Mr Ramesh told reporters, “Phase-I (of the project) is 2,000 hectares, phase-II is 3,000 hectares and if I recall right today the application for the 2,000 hectares is being considered. And two weeks from now or three weeks from now the application for the next phase, which is on 3,000 hectares, will be considered.”
He said the matter is being considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
The EAC is expected to give its decision on the first phase within the next two days.
When asked when a final decision was expected, the minister said, “I don’t know. The committee is meeting. I don’t interfere in their function. They are meeting for deciding for the phase-I clearance.”
The controversial project had run aground for proceeding following the MoEF order which had found it unauthorised and had ordered a status quo on the construction. The Hindustan Corporation Ltd, building this multi-billion rupee complex, had taken the matter to court.
“They went to court. The matter is in court. It is now that they have applied for the environmental clearance. Today and tomorrow it is being considered in our ministry. It is going through the due diligence process now,” Mr Ramesh said.
On January 18, the MoEF had ruled further construction but had given them a lifeline where work could continue following the observation of certain conditionalities.
After being given a lifeline, Lavasa on Monday applied afresh for environmental clearance to the first phase of its `3000-crore hill city project near Pune.