“We are disappointed with the Ministry of Environment and Forest's (MoEF) order today [Friday]. In fact, it is not even an ‘Order,'” a spokesperson for Lavasa Corporation said in a statement on Friday.
“After eleven months of continued delaying tactics, the MoEF has yet again evaded grant of Environment Clearance (EC). To suggest that the State government of Maharashtra has not yet taken action is not a good enough reason for delaying grant of EC, to such a large and important project, under development for last seven years,” a statement said.The State government had issued EC to Lavasa in 2004. In fact, the MoEF-appointed Expert Appraisal Committee has also recommended clearance to the project and the same was accepted by the MoEF in June 2011.For the first time in the history of the MoEF, pre-conditions were imposed on Lavasa for granting EC. “Lavasa has already complied with all the pre-conditions which we were supposed to fulfil,” the statement said.
