The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on Wednesday granted conditional permission to Lavasa Corporation to complete its under-construction buildings at its housing project site near Pune even as the realty firm backtracked on its plea to withdraw the petition challenging the stop-work notice issued by the ministry. According to the affidavit filed by the MoEF before the Bombay High Court,its expert committee has permitted the Lavasa Corporation to complete construction of 257 buildings which are above the plinth level at its hill city. In view of the investments made and taking note of the hardships faced by the petitioners (Lavasa) and pending construction work of 257 buildings,which are above plinth level,construction is permitted with some conditions, the affidavit filed by Deputy Director of the MoEF said. Simultaneously,senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and Janak Dwarkadas,appearing for Lavasa,told the High Court that the petitioner would like to withdraw their petition challenging the stop-work notice issued by the MoEF last year. They told the court that Lavasa would pursue its application filed before the MoEF seeking clearance for the housing project coming up in Pune district. Lavasa,however,backtracked after the Division Bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and R G Ketkar refused to lift the stay on the stop-work notice. The Bench said let the MoEF hear the Lavasas application and take a final decision on it.
