The Bombay High Court on Friday gave an ultimatum to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), directing it to pass the final order in the Lavasa matter within three weeks. “If the court is inclined to grant this time [three weeks], this should be by way of last chance. No further time should be given to the MoEF,” a Division Bench of Justices D.D. Sinha and V.K. Tahilramani said on Friday.
The court took the tough stand after the Lavasa Corporation Limited said it had been suffering huge losses since November 2010.
“I go from pillar to post and all I get are adjournments. This is an environment-friendly project and still has not been granted permission. Our losses have crossed hundreds of crores. We have made an investment of Rs. 3000 crore,” Shekhar Nafde, counsel for Lavasa, said.
The MoEF was slated to pass an order by Friday. When the court asked the Ministry why it was asking for more time, Additional Solicitor general Darius Khambata said: “They [Lavasa] wrote a letter to us on September 13 that they are being victimised. They have made further submissions for regularisation. We want to consider it.”
Lavasa, meanwhile, accused the Ministry of mala fide intentions, particularly the former Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh.
“The whole object of the Government of India is to ruin this project. The EAC [Expert Appraisal Committee] has clearly recommended this project…but Jairam Ramesh has taken it into his head that this project shouldn't be allowed. He couldn't record reasons for rejection though,” Mr. Nafde said.
The court said that if the Ministry did not pass an order in three weeks, it would hear Lavasa's petition on deemed clearance on the basis of merit.
It will now hear the matter on October 18.
