Lavasa Project Gets Environment Ministry Nod

The environment ministry on 9^th Nov gave conditional clearance to the first phase of the 3,000 crore rupees Lavasa hill city project near Pune in Maharashtra. 

Official sources said that the construction on nearly 257 housing units that had been stopped can now be completed. However, the court cases for alleged violation of the Environmental Protection Act against the Corporation will continue. Sources added that the approval has been given after the Lavassa management fulfilled all the necessary preconditions.

The preconditions included credible action by the Maharashtra government against the violation of environment laws, submission of a written commitment by the company that green violations shall not be repeated, and that the scale and intensity of development of the hill town shall be as per Hill Station Regulations.

The Maharashtra government had filed a criminal complaint against Lavasa Corporation, naming six officers and all nine directors of Lavasa. The ministry had last month denied environment clearance to the Lavasa project on non-compliance of the preconditions.