Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTSbe pleased to state :- (a) whether Government has asked the State of Maharashtra Government to take action against Lavasa for violation of green laws;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that Government has given conditional clearance to the hill city project located near Pune;
(d) whether construction in 681 hectare area was in progress without obtaining prior environment clearance; and
(e) if so, the action taken by Government against the defaulting unit?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b) The Ministry asked the Government of Maharashtra on 10th June, 2011 to take action against M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 because certain violations have been noticed during the site visit by the Committee headed by Shri Naresh Dayal and also during the appraisal by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) constituted under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.
(c) & (d) M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited submitted a proposal seeking environmental clearance on 2nd February, 2011 for 2000 hectares (Phase-I). The proposal was appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee in its various meetings and the Committee recommended the proposal with certain conditions. The Ministry has informed M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited regarding the requirement of the five pre-conditions before the issue of Environmental clearance. Environmental clearance is not issued as on date.
(f) Ministry has earlier issued a Show cause notice under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited on 25th November, 2010 and issued final directions on 17th January, 2011. M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited has filed writ petitions in the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay challenging the Show cause notice and final directions.
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTSbe pleased to state :- (a) whether Government has granted any mining lease of forest reserved land in the Yavatmal and Dongargaon regions;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that mining applications forwarded to Ministry claims the land as barren and not reserved, despite the fact that land is still reserved as forest land;
(d) whether Government has received any complaints of irregularities in granting mining lease of these regions;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the action taken/being taken against the erring officials?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) No mining lease has been granted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 in Yavatmal and Dongargaon regions during at least last ten years by the Ministry.
(b)& (c) The question does not arise.
(d) No complaint regarding irregularities in granting mining lease in Yavatmal and Dongargaon have been received by the Government.
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTSbe pleased to state :- (a) whether Government has asked the State of Maharashtra Government to take action against Lavasa for violation of green laws;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that Government has given conditional clearance to the hill city project located near Pune;
(d) whether construction in 681 hectare area was in progress without obtaining prior environment clearance; and
(e) if so, the action taken by Government against the defaulting unit?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b) The Ministry asked the Government of Maharashtra on 10th June, 2011 to take action against M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 because certain violations have been noticed during the site visit by the Committee headed by Shri Naresh Dayal and also during the appraisal by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) constituted under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.
(c) & (d) M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited submitted a proposal seeking environmental clearance on 2nd February, 2011 for 2000 hectares (Phase-I). The proposal was appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee in its various meetings and the Committee recommended the proposal with certain conditions. The Ministry has informed M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited regarding the requirement of the five pre-conditions before the issue of Environmental clearance. Environmental clearance is not issued as on date.
(f) Ministry has earlier issued a Show cause notice under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited on 25th November, 2010 and issued final directions on 17th January, 2011. M/s Lavasa Corporation Limited has filed writ petitions in the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay challenging the Show cause notice and final directions.
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTSbe pleased to state :- (a) whether Government has granted any mining lease of forest reserved land in the Yavatmal and Dongargaon regions;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that mining applications forwarded to Ministry claims the land as barren and not reserved, despite the fact that land is still reserved as forest land;
(d) whether Government has received any complaints of irregularities in granting mining lease of these regions;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the action taken/being taken against the erring officials?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) No mining lease has been granted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 in Yavatmal and Dongargaon regions during at least last ten years by the Ministry.
(b)& (c) The question does not arise.
(d) No complaint regarding irregularities in granting mining lease in Yavatmal and Dongargaon have been received by the Government.
