HC asks MoEF to decide Lavasa issue by Jan 17

The Bombay High Court today granted an extension till January 17 to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to take the final decision on its show-cause notice to Lavasa Corporation.

The extension was granted after the ministry informed the Court that inspection of the site will get over today and final decision can be taken only after a week.

The High Court had on December 22 directed the MoEF to take decision on the show cause notice by January 10 and had also directed for state/centre level Environment Impact Assessment Committee to visit the site for inspection before taking the decision.

"Since the inspection will get over only today it would not be possible to take a final decision on January 10 (Monday). Hence we sought one week's time," additional solicitor general Darius Khambata said.

MoEF had served notice to Lavasa Corporation on November 25 last year as to why it did not obtain environmental clearances as per notifications issued under Environment Protection Act before the project started in 2004.

LC, a subsidiary of Hindustan Construction Company, is developing a hill station at Lavasa in Mulshi taluka of Pune.

It challenged MoEF's order to stop the construction pending hearing on notice. When matter landed in High Court, MoEF gave a hearing to LC as to whether stay to construction was necessary, and reconfirmed the stay on December 14.