Environment Ministry directs action against Lavasa

In the on going tussle over the environmental clearance for HCC's Lavasa Township, the Environment Ministry has now written to the Maharashtra Government asking it to take action against the company under the Environment Protection act.

The letter comes on the back of a conditional nod by the Expert Appraisal Committee for the first phase of the hill city. CNBC-TV18's Mehak Kasbekar reports.
There is a very strong signal here coming from the Environment Ministry. They have asked to initiate some action for the violation of the Environment Act because 681 hectares by Lavasa were constructed upon without any prior clearance for the Ministry.
However, under the Environment Act the maximum penalty is just between Rs 1-5 lakh.
On its part, the state government may write to the Centre asking them exactly what needs to be done.
Earlier the Expert Appraisal Committee had given 34 stringent norms to Lavasa.