Maharashtra govt to move Pune court against Lavasa

The Maharashtra government will move the magistrate court at Pune 'in a day or two' against Lavasa, HCC's flagship project, for environmental violation.

"The government will file a case against Lavasa for violating section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act," sources in the environment department said.

The government has authorised state pollution control board to initiate action in this regard, they added.

Last month, the Mumbai High Court had directed the state government to act against Lavasa, after which the government sought views of Law and Judiciary Department on what kind of action should be taken.

"The department has suggested the government to proceed as per the direction of the court," the sources said.

The government had earlier adopted a 'wait and watch' policy as the matter was in court and felt the court would take action, the sources said.

Lavasa Corporation had challenged the order of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) against it in the Mumbai High Court.

"After the charge of environment protection rules violation is proved in court, action under IPC can be taken," the sources said.

Construction work was stopped in November last year when the MoEF pulled up Lavasa Corporation for starting work without its clearance.

On June 10 this year, the ministry imposed five conditions that the project needed to meet to get the nod to continue.

One of these was "credible action" by the state government.

On October 13, the Union environment ministry declined Lavasa's application for clearance for the first phase of its 5,000-hectare project because the condition for "credible action" was not met.