TOURISM: The hill station will create more than 50,000 jobs over 10 years.
Hill-station tourism is not new for Indians who enjoy the cold weather at locations such as Darjeeling, Shimla, Ooty or Nainital during Summer. These towns, for over 100 years, have been looked at as India’s prime hill stations necessarily promoted and developed by the British rulers.
Over the next 10 years, another name might well be added to this list, which is 12,500-acre huge ‘Lavasa lake city’, being developed by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) near Pune within the Western Ghat ranges. Promoted as free India’s first planned hill station, Lavasa lake city, will be ready as a complete town with a population of 1.5 lakh.
Being developed in accordance with the controversial Hill Station policy passed by the Maharashtra government, the Lavasa lake city, has attracted opposition right from day one. However, the developers have now overcome all the difficulties and socio-political hurdles, as the first phase of this Rs 40,000-crore project is nearing completion. The city is coming up on eight huge hillocks that surround the illongated Varasgaon dam backwaters to ensure excellent natural habitat for the city.
CONTROVERDIAL ISSUES RAISED BY ACTIVISTS REGARDING LAVASA
Forceful acquisition of land from owners; the government of India has appointed a comiittee to investigate the land deals; Activist Medha Patkar too has demanded a CBI probe into this issue
Land owners will now be working as servants and maids in Pune as they have lost their land
Lavasa is constructing eight weirs (small dams) within the Varasgaon catchment area, which might lead to lesser water supply to Pune city
Lavasa will pump water from Varasgaon lake at nominal rates despite being a commercial project
Once ready, a special planning authority (SPA) would be set up, which will have powers equivalent to a municipal council within Lavasa
There are allegations that the Lavasa project was planned even before the government decided to formulate its Hill Station policy. The policy was formulated to ensure a smooth way for Lavasa.
“Lavasa is not a township or a huge real-estate project such as the Sahara group’s Amby Valley. It is a complete town that is self sufficient and meets residential and living needs of poor, middle-class and elite people. The hill station itself will create more than 50,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Hence, citizens residing here can enjoy the walk to work lifestyle,” said Lavasa Corporation President Rajgopal Nogja.
Lavasa is planned in four phases out of which, the first phase titled ‘Davse’ will be operational from 2010 with almost 1,000 villas and 500 apartments. The development of phase-II will begin next year and the same would be ready by 2014. The third and fourth phases would be ready by 2017 and 2021, respectively. “We are managing the Rs 40,000 crore investment through equity, debts and internal accurals as of now. We will come out with an IPO at an appropriate time,” Nogja added.
Considering Pune city’s identity as the next information technology (IT) hub, the developers have already working towards getting a number of IT firms to have development centres within Lavasa. In addition to this, prominent educational barrons such as Symbiosis, Oxford University and a number of other prominent institutions are setting up their campuses here. Names such as Apollo Hospitals, Accor developers, Grand Mercure Hotel and Spa, ITC, Inistitute of International Business Relations-Germany, University of Berlin along with National School of Hotel Management-Kolkata will all be at Lavasa to serve citizens.
The benefit that Lavasa enjoys over other similar projects is its pricing. There is a wide range of investment options at Lavasa beginning with studio apartments worth Rs 16 lakh to villas worth Rs 8-10 crore. “We are also creating small localities for people who will work here as workers, sweepers and maids,” he added.
Lavasa has already signed electricity supply agreements with power-starved Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) and Tata Power Company Ltd while it will pump water from Varasgaon dam, which is mainly responsible for Pune city’s water supply. “Lavasa pays the irrigation department for actual consumption of water. However, through several dams and check dams, we would be adding 0.9 TMC (thousand million cubic ft) water to the Varasgaon reservoir. Lavasa will consume approximately 0.5 TMC of water. Therefore, a surplus of 0.4 TMC water would be added to the Varagaon dam,” Nogja claimed.
Like all major projects, Lavasa too has landed into a number of controversies. There have been allegations of forceful land acquisition, construction of dams within Varasgaon dam, the company's close relationship with politcos like union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and the probable environmental hazards it might cause in future. Activist Medha Patkar had recently launched agitations at Lavasa demanding a CBI inquiry of land deals at Lavasa saying, land-owners were duped and not rehabilitated by the company using political influence.
Pawar's influence on this projects was obvious as his daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule along with his close associates Vitthal Maniar and Aniruddha Deshpande jointly owned more than 15 per cent stake in Lavasa Lake City. In the wake of agitations and controversies, Sule as well as Deshpande sold their stakes while Maniar continues to hold 6 per cent stake in the project. “Apart from Maniar, the ownership lies with HCC real estate (65%), Venkateshwara Hatcheries (13%) and Avantha Group (16%),” Nogja stated. “Lavasa is a privately developed hill station as per government rules and there is no participation of politicians,” he concluded.
I am interested in buying a villa on 13 acre in lavaasa as well as a lake facing 3 bedroom apartment. What are the ratyes to build out. please contact at sajidatx@yahoo.com
i want to buy a 1/5acre villa in lavasa.can u let me know the current rates the.also my husband is in the army.is the any kind of discount for defense personels.plz mail me the details.thank u.
Posted by: abhinav
November 13 , 2010, 01:11 IST
Yes I have a very good villa options available with me.. plz revert back on 9890458573
i am interested in buying a 2-3 bhk appartment or a pent house at lavasa pls mail me the detail of property and the rates if possible send some pics too
I am never against new developments like this, but it saddens me to hear that the farmers and agriculturists who sold their lands did not get the right compensation.
For a 40K crore project, what would have gone wrong to compensate the farmers rightly or even for above market rates.
Life was given to us to make everything around us prosperous. When will the humanity understand that?
hi....i am keenly interested in purchasing a land in lavasa....or a 1 BHK or studio appartment...pls send me the details on Nidhi_niki2006@yahoo.com...as soon as possible
Self owned---One villa and one apartment(apartment has a deck/balcony of 1600 sq ft) for sale in Lavasa. These are among the best that Lavasa can Ever offer with a 3 side lake view without any obstruction. Both units nearly complete and 95% payments done and property registered.Each unit is 3 bedroom.Ideal for Families looking for a fantastic,most exclusive getaway to a brilliant lakefront locaton.Only for buyers with a strong budget :rajiv@innovativeindia.com
Posted by: kalpana
September 22 , 2010, 13:02 IST
please send me details of both the properties and price.
Posted by: Paul
September 18 , 2010, 15:12 IST
I am interested in 3bhk apartment, please contact me on 9833302973
Posted by: Sunil
September 17 , 2010, 16:17 IST
tell me the costing of the villa with the area of the villa
Posted by: rohit
July 06 , 2010, 20:42 IST
Hi Rajiv,
Please contact me regarding selling your property. Thanks. Rohit 9923485448
Posted by: sudhakar shetty
July 04 , 2010, 13:17 IST
please let me know the rate per sq ft post some photographs of the flat and bldg and the area of each room
Posted by: shashi
June 19 , 2010, 09:56 IST
Hi.
We are interested in buying apartment in lavasa. Kindly let us know the details of rate per sq ft. Also if u can post some photographs, it would be better.
Plz. let me know the area wise details of flats & rates for booking flat in your project at LAVASA cit near Pune. I'm interested in buying a property soon.
Plz. let me know the area wise details of flats & rates for booking flat in your project at LAVASA cit near Pune. I'm interested in buying a property soon.
Dear All,
We are leading property consulting company based at Delhi and soon coming up with a wonderful project in Vegre. Just 2.5 kms from Lavasa with the overview of hills and river. We have land bank of around 100 acres and want to sell farm house plots starting from 1 acres to 10 acres.
If anybody is interested, please let us know @ bizzrealty@gmail.com or one can call us at 9810350442. Sharad Bansal
Posted by: sanjay
October 02 , 2010, 23:35 IST
kindly furnish rate per acre
Posted by: PRAKASH B U
June 23 , 2010, 19:36 IST
MU MY INTER \ PL NOTE N CALL MR PRAKASH TEL NO 9320816277 N 02232108533 \PL REPLY OF PRICE N MINIMUM SQ MTR PLOT AREA WATING FOR REPLY
Posted by: Shabbir
May 15 , 2010, 21:29 IST
Kindly furnish me the rate / sqft or per acre and is it commercial , residential or mixed. Do you have ready villas as well? Any further details about current infrastructure and business potential in near future will be helpful. Any location details and picutres will be appreciated.
I have 4.6 acres land in lavarde for immediate sale, close to main road of lavasa, inner road to plot will be completed soon. mdlavasa@gmail.com
Posted by: Varun
July 23 , 2010, 15:35 IST
I've been exploring Lavasa as an investment and a future home. Please share your property details and site map if any and advise the rate for sale. Will appreciate an early reply. varun@compmartindia.com; -09810524852
Posted by: GAIKWAD B M
April 11 , 2010, 08:59 IST
I have one party,pls let me know the exact location & rate of the land.
Pls call up me on 9922426214
Hi i am Naveen Bhusari, I want buy 300 to 500 sq. yards of land in and around Lavasa City please call me 09246307717 / 09290122234 or post detail on my email naveenbhusari@gmail.com. or contact on 09049002033.
Posted by: umesh
February 14 , 2010, 17:27 IST
Dear Mr Bhusari I woned the land nesr lavasa in varasgaon 2 acres it is 25 km frpm lavasa and 45 km from pune on hill pune lavasa road pl contact 09981533015
i wanted to buy 5 to 25 acres of land at good location on water front at lavasacity.immediate settlement. email with full detail along with location map,price etc.
Posted by: raviraj
November 24 , 2010, 15:18 IST
We are having 12.5 acre n.a.land on old mumbai-pune highway, lonavala. do call for more details on 022 24216034
hi my name is HITESH DEDHIA i would like to know the price rate of half acre & 1/3 villas and 1 or 2 or 3 BHK flats u have at lavasa can u please send me the details on my email adress
I wants to purchase 10 acer agriculture land near lavasa or Lavasa Road touch.Anybody can help me. Contact me directly thro email: dvrsbusiness@gmail.com
Posted by: ayub merchant
November 21 , 2009, 15:24 IST
I can offer you 10-15 acer of land just side of lavasa in village tav after the third phase.At very low price.
Posted by: milind
November 10 , 2009, 12:24 IST
i can offer you on same road, near mutha gaon, before lavasa, rivertouch property
Space Interiors from pune, a complete Residencial & Commercial Interior solutions & Contracting co., a Dubai's interior company, Corporate Interiors, Commercial & Residencial furniture, all Interior/exterior contracting co., please mail for a best quote. spaceinteriors08@gmail.com
I want to know the availibility of resedential house and appartments of 2bhk&3bhk .also i would like to know the prices of house for medium earning people( as i am a teacher).and other facility like medical, school etc ,also tell me the payment mode if i have to purchase .i want min: price house
I would like to buy a villa or apartment in Lavasa city.Please let me know the property rate and expected date of completion.
Posted by: ravinder
September 03 , 2009, 16:05 IST
I want to know the price of resedential home or appartment in lavasa(dasve) 2bhk and 3bhkand other featerslike education for children, medical facilitiyetc
hi, please mail me the rate of apartment villa for lower and middle income group alongwith the layout of the same and location of property.
thanks
sandeep.
I want to start a restaurant at this place. Please let me know how can I buy a property here for that? I have heard it is only meant for branded stores. Is this true? If not, Please guide me through proper procedure!
I want to put hordings 25 k.m.before Lavasa on Pune Lavasa road will u please give me the list of prospective advertisers like Hotels, School Institutions etc.I will be very greatful if u could provide this information to me
Kind regards
Dr Bakane
sir, can i go to lavasa and study the ecological balance btn nature and creatrd concrete hillstation managed in desiners view to reach the updated standard of mans required hil station to satify the humans creation and a complete station to fullfill the enjoyment sply in summer for mumbaikar and punekar reds harshad jilka project consultant for land and real estate.
Please send me the details of completion of project as I would like to invest for accomodation and business both with full details of property cost and procedure .
We have gone through the writeup on Lavasa city, and very much imressed, its layout facilities, we wouid like to know how to reach Lavasa city , would like to visit their in person , how to book an apartment, pl try to send the deteils
Lets do away with archaic thinking and foray into a new well planned India... of course all this with the locals and the environment issues well addressed. At the rate we are going and all the impediments in the way of every new development.... changing The face of our country, could well be a near impossible task!
Yes, Definately there are some contri against this project like Amby Valley but if you can involve local farmers / land owners / local population to be a part of the project and they should have the real feel of ownership like Magarpatta city or wagholi township then it is fine otherwise such projects are enjoying the natural resources at the cost of general population depriving them to face the effects of pollutions made naturally or politically or socially by common men.
It should be balance
Posted by: Debashissengupta
August 18 , 2009, 14:47 IST
Pl let me know the availability and rate of property at Lavasa at the earliest.