No large-scale forest destruction at Lavasa: MoEF panel

Wrapping up its three-day visit to the Lavasa Lake City near here, the Central team deputed to look into alleged violations in the project today said no large-scale destruction of forest had taken place at the controversial site.

"Prima facie there does not seem to be a large-scale destruction of forest," Ministry of Environment and Forest Committee Chairman Naresh Dayal told reporters at the end of the visit of the 11-member team to the site which has been in the eye of a controversy over violation of green norms.

In reply to a question, he also said there should not be any concerns over reduction in water supply to Pune city due to the project.

"There is no specific evidence of reduction in water supply to Pune," Dayal said.

He said the committee had received necessary documents from Leaves Corporation and Maharashtra government and had "seen" what it wanted to at the site.

The committee during its visit, heard the views of those for and against independent India's first planned hill city, including villagers and activists Medha Patkar and Anna Hazare, strident critics of the project for alleged violations of environmental norms.

The committee, which inspected the Lavasa site on directions from the Bombay High Court, is expected to submit its report to the MoEF, which has stayed the construction work on the project following environmental concerns, shortly.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman of the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), which is executing the project, said the Lavasa Corporation was "open to necessary corrections" in case of any possible environmental violations in the Rs 4000-crore project provided it remained "viable" and not left in "limbo".

"We are not saying it is perfect. Improvement is possible," he said, adding that "objective and measurable standards are necessary for corrections".

Gulabchand said the Lavasa Corporation had answered all queries made by the committee which had come to inspect and study the site.