Lavasa Corporation rejected the contention of the Environment Ministry, dubbing its order as "highly dicriminatory and unjust".
In a fresh blow to Lavasa, the Environment Ministry Friday refused to grant green clearance to the first phase of the ambitious hill city project near Pune contending that all the pre-conditions were not met.
Lavasa Corporation rejected the contention of the Environment Ministry, dubbing its order as "highly dicriminatory and unjust" and its Chairman Ajit Gulabchand wanted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene.
The Ministry in its order yesterday said that the Maharashtra Government was yet to take credible action against Lavasa for violation of the Environment Protection Act and clearance for the first phase of the 2,000 hectare project cannot be granted.
"As the pre-condition on the credible action on violation of EIA Notification, 2006 has not been complied with, the Ministry is unable to issue the Environmental Clearance to the first phase of Hill City project (2000 ha) of M/s LCL," the Ministry said.
"The final decision on the Environmental Clearance cannot be taken till all the pre-conditions are met including credible action by the State Government of Maharashtra and subject to the final orders of the High Court of Bombay as the matter is sub-judice," the order said.
The ministry had laid down five pre-conditions, as suggested by the Expert Appraisal Committee, for Lavasa to comply with before grant of environment clearance.
These conditions include demarcation of land usage which includes open spaces, diverting five per cent of its expenses for Corporate Social Responsibility, creation of an Environment Restoration Fund, which in turn will be monitored by a Verification and Monitoring Committee and a submission by the company that violations would not be repeated.
In a statement, Lavasa said it had complied with all the pre-conditions it was supposed to fulfill and that the refusal to give clearance was "delaying tactics".
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