Expert panel says Lavasa developer should rework plan

An expert panel has noted that 'environmental compromises' had been made in development of Lavasa.

While noting that environmental compromises had been made in the development of hill town of Lavasa in Maharashtra,an expert panel of the Environment Ministry has suggested that the project developer should be asked to rework the plan of the township and make a fresh assessment of its impact on the environment.

But the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry has not felt the need to stop the ongoing construction at the project site. …it is established that substantial development has already taken place in about 700 hectares. In view of this and considering all related consequences,there is no alternative before the EAC,except appraising the project ex-post-facto and specifying certain conditions with a view to minimise future damages, says the minutes of the meeting of EAC on March 3 when the Lavasa project had come for appraisal.

However,for the remaining area where construction is yet to take place there is still a chance to examine… and correct the entire model of development in the right environmental perspective. It could mean permitting only limited low intensity environment friendly development to ensure that all the issues are appropriately addressed.

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The Lavasa project,being developed near Pune by Hindustan Constructions Company,was issued a show-cause notice by the Environment Ministry in November last year for alleged violations of green laws. The developer had challenged the Ministrys directive in the Bombay High Court. The next hearing in the case is on Friday.

At its meeting on March 3,the EAC pointed out several specific problems with the project. It said the site had been selected without examining environmental issues and it ignored the well laid out principles of sustainable development.

During the process of development undertaken so far,there appears to be a degree of disregard towards the baseline vital environmental features,may it be slopes,physiography,geology,drainage pattern,or biodiversity,flora and fauna, it said,and asked the developer to take a series of measures to minimise the adverse environmental impacts.

The committee noted that out of the 935 residential buildings that are proposed to be built,131 were nearing completion,257 are under construction above plinth level while the construction of 547 buildings were yet to start. It said if the developer carries out its suggestions,the 257 under-construction buildings should be allowed to be completed.

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