Maha to file report on illegal excavation

"Action will be taken against the guilty if they are found to have violated environment laws," Environment Minister Sanjay Deotale told the Legislative Council today.

Deotale also clarified that the state government has not cleared a hill city project proposed in Pune district.

"We have not given any permission to the 'Maharashtra Valley View Project'," the minister said.

He was replying to the allegations raised by Leader of Opposition Vinod Tawde that the state government has given a go-ahead for the project on insistence of a senior Congress leader based in Delhi.

The hill city project spanning 5,914 acres is to come up on lands in Saltar, Mazgaon, Barpe Budruk, Bhambarde, Ekole, Ghutke, and Adgaon villages.

Questions were raised in certain quarters over the processes adopted for acquisition of land for the project against the backdrop of controversial Lavasa project also in Pune district.

Deotale also said that criminal cases have been registered against Lavasa directors for alleged violation of environmental norms.