Lavasa Hill City | 10,000 acre city

[ab041937]

I am beginning to literally hate this A$$hole.

Lavasa gets Jairam Ramesh blow: All work in lake city illegal
Published: Saturday, Nov 27, 2010, 1:18 IST
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA

In a major blow to the ambitious Lavasa lake city project near Pune, the Union environment ministry headed by Jairam Ramesh has termed all construction activities in the 25,000-hectare project illegal.

A show cause notice from the ministry deems all structures so far unauthorised as they have been built without any environment clearance under its notifications of 2004 and 2006.

The notice requires that the “status quo ante for construction and development as on date should be maintained” pending decision on the notice. It simply means that no further construction can be undertaken.

The Lavasa Corporation, a group company of Hindustan Construction Corporation (HCC), has also been asked why the unauthorised structures should not be demolished “in entirety”. It means that all big bungalows, villas and farm houses may face action now.

Ramesh told DNA that he had given 15 days to the state government and the promoters to respond, and halt all activity until a decision was taken in the matter.

Many influential politicians, bureaucrats and others have villas and plots in the Lavasa lake city. No action has yet been taken. Former revenue minister Narayan Rane had gone on record a few weeks ago saying that it was too late in the day to initiate any move since it had already come up.

He has suggested that the state should impose only compounding fee on the developers.

Of late, there has been a flood of petitions to prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi complaining about how the entire forest land had been encroached upon, acquired and developed in violation of rules. Ramesh decided to act swiftly as the Maharashtra government had been dragging its feet.

The ministry’s notice has put the fate of the real estate firm’s proposed Rs2000-crore IPO in jeopardy. It was recently cleared by the Sebi. The notice came at a time when Lavasa Corporation is already in the thick of a bribery scam, and its offices have been raided by CBI.

A spokesperson of the Lavasa corporation said, “We are still to receive the notice. As and when such a notice is received we will respond after studying it.”

When asked why the firm figures on the list of recipients of loans from banks which have been under the CBI scanner in the loans kickback scam recently, and there’s a fear in the market that banks may review all the loans given to several companies, Ajit Gulabchand, chairman of HCC & Lavasa, defended the project.

“Lavasa is a project of great importance to the Maharashtra government’s policy of building a hill station. In this context, we had to raise money with the banks and all transactions have been very clear and syndicated without any special favours or anything at all.”

The show cause notice asks the developers to provide the status of the project “with photographs/satellite maps indicating the constructions as on 18.3.2004, 7.7.2004, 14.9.2006 and up to date”. It says that the developers had built over 1,000 metres above sea level on 47.3 hectares of land without obtaining prior clearance.

[Marathaman]

Why are people so enthusiastic about this project? It's nothing but a glorified gated community for the super-rich. It won't help India's economic development one bit. I don't mind that Env Ministry is putting the brakes on this. As it is the Western Ghats are disappearing thanks to deforestation, mining, quarrying, illegal developments....

In any case I hate the faux European architecture. If Mah. government is so keen for it they could have atleast promoted the local architecture.

[mumbaiwala]

Originally Posted by ab041937

I am beginning to literally hate this A$$hole.

Why?? You invested in Lavasa??

Did you read this yet ....
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/22/stor...2256802000.htm

Dam the water that can be supplied to millions so that few can enjoy paddle boats...?

[stpete]

Additionally, I don't mind ppl building and enjoying such facilities as long as evrything's clean and transparent.. we all know what sh** Lavasa is...

Originally Posted by mumbaiwala

Why?? You invested in Lavasa??

Did you read this yet ....
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/22/stor...2256802000.htm

Dam the water that can be supplied to millions so that few can enjoy paddle boats...?

[gentem]

Originally Posted by mumbaiwala

Why?? You invested in Lavasa??

Did you read this yet ....
http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/22/stor...2256802000.htm

Dam the water that can be supplied to millions so that few can enjoy paddle boats...?

dude paddle boat doesnt consume water.. get it??

[shreyansh]

'Irregularities' in Lavasa project: Maharashtra government

Maharashtra government tonight alleged some irregularities had occurred in Lavasa hill city and assured the assembly to probe each and every aspect of the multi-crore project in Pune district.

There were some "irregularities," among other things, in the acquisition of tribal land but there was nothing improper in developing the hill city, revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said replying to a short duration discussion in the assembly.

The government, he said, was willing to probe all alleged irregularities and there was no question of shielding anyone.

The opposition, not satisfied with the government's reply, staged a walkout, pressing for setting up a joint legislative committee (JLC) to probe the controversial plan.

Thorat denied any breach of norms in the allotment of 141 hectares of state-run Krishna Valley Corporation (KVC) land on lease for 30 years to Lavasa Corp which is constructing the private hill city. It was within the purview of KVC to develop, sell or give on lease its land.

He said that the government would probe whether permission was needed from the revenue department to allot the land.

Thorat said there was nothing improper in the meeting between the then chief minister (Vilasrao Deshmukh), Union agriculture minister (Sharad Pawar) and stakeholders at Lavasa guest house since the idea was to personally visit the project site and get first hand information.

Taking part in the debate, industries minister Narayan Rane said Lavasa was cleared during his tenure as revenue minister in the previous Vilasrao Deshmukh government.

Rane accused the opposition of trying to "create hurdles" in development activities.

He targeted former chief minister Manohar Joshi of Shiv Sena, saying the saffron combine-led government had sanctioned Sahara Group's Amby Valley, another controversial project in Pune district.

Incidentally, Rane was the revenue minister at that time also.

There were allegations of massive corruption in the Amby Valley deal, Rane, now in Congress, said.

He said Lavasa was not just a luxurious residential scheme but would have research and convention centres also.

Rane justified not inviting tenders for the lake city, saying the project was to come up on private land and the government had nothing to do with it.

Government cleared the project since it was aimed at boosting tourism in the state, he said.

NCP members Jitendra Aawhad and Shashikant Shinde defended government's clearance to the project which they said had attracted large investment.

Initiating the debate, Davendra Phadanvis (BJP) said Maharashtra was reeling under two scams - Adarsha Housing and Lavasa.

He alleged huge tracts of land for Lavasa were acquired by the stakeholders without prior permission from tribal-owners, which was mandatory in such cases.

[scoobysaurus]

hey guys does anyone have an idea of how much a villa would cost in this thing? like the 1/2 acre or 1/3 acre.. oh yeah and how far is this from hyderabad? :S

[sixsigma1978]

Originally Posted by Marathaman

Why are people so enthusiastic about this project? It's nothing but a glorified gated community for the super-rich. It won't help India's economic development one bit. I don't mind that Env Ministry is putting the brakes on this. As it is the Western Ghats are disappearing thanks to deforestation, mining, quarrying, illegal developments....

In any case I hate the faux European architecture. If Mah. government is so keen for it they could have atleast promoted the local architecture.

I completely AGREE with ab041937!!

Lavasa will get clearance eventually - too much has been built - to be torn down! Besides, if Lavasa's existence is not justified - then neither should the existence of Ooty or Manali!! Just because they exist is no grounds for stopping on new ones. In India - getting a MASSIVE project off the ground is impossible without irregularities. When it gets off - we have too many cooks trying to milk it or get publicity.
I respect Jairam Ramesh's proactiveness - but he's getting too much into obstructionist mode - and it seems to be simply getting worse.

[flyinfishjoe]

Originally Posted by sixsigma1978

Besides, if Lavasa's existence is not justified - then neither should the existence of Ooty or Manali!!

So because we made mistakes in the past, we should keep making them?

[Suncity]

Most of Mumbai slums are illegal and are polluting Mumbai's environment. Let Mr Jayram Ramesh declare them illegal, stop all illegal construction activity and remove the slums. Then we will see if he really stands for the environment or is he just trying to impress a certain section of activist brigade.

[SSCaddict]

sun comm'on i didn't expect this from you it is jairam

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by SSCaddict

sun comm'on i didn't expect this from you it is jairam

he can be Jairam or Shreeram. But I don't necessarily trust a politician. What needs to be found is whether he is playing to a certain type of gallery with all this supposed "green activism". Maybe he will get an international award?

[SSCaddict]

[gentem]

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defau...Mode=HTML&GZ=T

[sixsigma1978]

No large-scale forest destruction at Lavasa: MoEF panel

PUNE: Wrapping up its three-day visit to the Lavasa Lake City near here, the Central team deputed to look into alleged violations in the project today said no large-scale destruction of forest had taken place at the controversial site.

"Prima facie there does not seem to be a large-scale destruction of forest," Ministry of Environment and Forest Committee Chairman Naresh Dayal told reporters at the end of the visit of the 11-member team to the site which has been in the eye of a controversy over violation of green norms.

In reply to a question, he also said there should not be any concerns over reduction in water supply to Pune city due to the project.

"There is no specific evidence of reduction in water supply to Pune," Dayal said.

He said the committee had received necessary documents from Leaves Corporation and Maharashtra government and had "seen" what it wanted to at the site.

The committee during its visit, heard the views of those for and against independent India's first planned hill city, including villagers and activists Medha Patkar and Anna Hazare, strident critics of the project for alleged violations of environmental norms.

The committee, which inspected the Lavasa site on directions from the Bombay High Court, is expected to submit its report to the MoEF, which has stayed the construction work on the project following environmental concerns, shortly.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman of the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), which is executing the project, said the Lavasa Corporation was "open to necessary corrections" in case of any possible environmental violations in the Rs 4000-crore project provided it remained "viable" and not left in "limbo".

"We are not saying it is perfect. Improvement is possible," he said, adding that "objective and measurable standards are necessary for corrections".

Gulabchand said the Lavasa Corporation had answered all queries made by the committee which had come to inspect and study the site.

Source : Link


Means - We came! We saw! we've made our cut!! We weren't satisfied with what we'd got earlier! Now that are bellies are partly full - we can safely move to cause havoc in another large project!! YUM - Another one !! DB TOWER!! Its TOO high! It will cause pollution in the stratosphere!! Here we come!!!

[tall_dreams]

Originally Posted by flyinfishjoe

So because we made mistakes in the past, we should keep making them?

s ARE YOU SAYING THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY HILL STATIONS? People should not live in hilly picturesque areas?

[Suncity]

Medha Patkar is a really busy activist. She seems to be all over the place - from Singur to Lavasa.

[gentem]

Originally Posted by sixsigma1978

Source : Link


Means - We came! We saw! we've made our cut!! We weren't satisfied with what we'd got earlier! Now that are bellies are partly full - we can safely move to cause havoc in another large project!! YUM - Another one !! DB TOWER!! Its TOO high! It will cause pollution in the stratosphere!! Here we come!!!

actually the picture of toi ad i posted shows 2007 and current comparison. lavasa is trying to prove green cover improved much..

[sixsigma1978]

Originally Posted by Suncity

Medha Patkar is a really busy activist. She seems to be all over the place - from Singur to Lavasa.

She was in bangalore in the 90s protesting alongside KRRS chief Nanjundaswamy against KFC's entry into Karnataka!!!

[bonoslack7]

sigh....gutter newspaper times of india owns a 0.81% share in lavasa. Once times of india gets banned, India would be a better place to live.