'No bias against Lavasa'

Union minister for environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh, today said there was no bias or prejudice on the part of his ministry in having issued a showcause notice to the Lavasa Lake city coming up near Pune.

Talking to reporters here, he added: “When they reply comes, we will follow procedures as per law.”

He said the notice was sent because in the view of his ministry, the existing laws of forest conservation and environment protection had been violated.

“No decision will be taken arbitrarily. Lavasa will be given a chance to put forth their point. Action would be taken after due consideration,” Ramesh said.

He said the priority of his ministry was to monitor implementation of the environment laws passed by Parliament.

When asked about the Adarsh Housing society controversy, Ramesh said the lawyers had replied to his ministry’s showcause notice.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said a police complaint had been filed on the missing papers in the case. “Investigations are on and action would be taken against the guilty,” he added. He said an internal inquiry into the issue was also in progress.