The court on Thursday granted six weeks to the Lavasa Corporation Limited (LCL) to submit documents demanded by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in its final order passed on January 17. The Ministry has clarified there will be no out-of-court settlement.
The Lavasa Corporation issued a statement later in the day that it had submitted all the necessary documents to the Ministry, and the time was sought from the court to consider a solution in the case.
“This is as per our discussions with Jairam Ramesh, Minister, Environment and Forests. The Lavasa Corporation has asked for time to consider a solution,” the statement read.
But Additional Solicitor-General Darius Khambata said in the court that the Ministry was not thinking of any out-of-court settlement.
“The final order has been issued for furnishing information. There is no question about talking of settlement. There is no settlement going on. I can't take adjournment on wrong grounds,” he said in the court.
Meanwhile, the LCL also filed a fresh petition in the court on January 24 challenging the final order passed by the MoEF on January 17, which cited gross violations of environmental norms.
It had said in its order that it would consider the future of the project based on its merits.
A few days ago, Ajit Gulabchand, the chairperson of Hindustan Construction Company, had met the Union Minister for Environment and Forests to “find an amicable solution” in the matter.
The court said on Thursday that all the matters related to Adarsh would now be heard after six weeks, i.e. on March 10.
