Lavasa seeks more time to answer MoEF

Real estate developer Lavasa Corporation Limited on Thursday sought more time from the Bombay High Court to answer the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on its the high profile township project near Pune.

Lavasa told the court it needs six week?s time to submit all documents related to the project.

The court postponed the hearing till March 10.

Meanwhile, highly-placed sources said Lavasa is trying to reach an ?amicable settlement? with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

Earlier, the MoEF ordered penalties for Lavasa Corporation Limited and maintained status quo to continue at the township project site.

While submitting its report at the Bombay High Court on Jan 18, the Ministry said the project violates Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 1994.

The Ministry has ruled against the project saying the construction is ?unauthorised? and ?environmentally damaging?.

It also slapped substantial penalties on the company and ordered to maintain status quo at the site.

But Lavasa Corporation Limited hit out at the Ministry claiming that it does not have objective and measurable norms.

Earlier, on Dec 22, the high court backed the Ministry’s stop-work notice on the high profile township project.

The Ministry had reinstated its stop-work notice on Dec. 14 after the Court had stayed it on Dec. 7, asking it to give a hearing to the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) group-backed Lavasa Corporation.

The company had to stop work on its USD 31 billion township being developed 60 km from Pune after the Ministry of Environment and Forests had slammed it for not obtaining a clearance as per the Environment Protection Act.

In a showcause notice, dated Nov. 25, 2010, the Ministry had asked why certain structures built after 2004 should not be razed and had ordered a stay on all construction. Lavasa had challenged the notice and the stay order in the Bombay High Court.