The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to consider allowing Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) to carry out construction work on its projects in Lavasa that would cause minimal environmental damage. ?Check, if a certain construction work, which according to you (MoEF) causes minimal environmental damage and can be permitted to continue under your supervision and at the risk of Lavasa,? the court asked additional solicitor general (ASG) Darius Khambatta. The case will now be heard on Tuesday.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Lavasa Corporation challenging the showcause notice and stop work order issued by MoEF on Nov 25. The ministry said Lavasa failed to secure necessary environmental clearances before starting work on its 5,000-plus hectare Lake City project coming up in Mulshi sub-district of Pune district, around 200 km from Mumbai. Subsequently, on December 14, the MoEF has issued a fresh interim order directing Lavasa to maintain status quo. The fresh order was passed after hearing Lavasa Corporation, as directed by the court earlier. Lavasa is 65% owned by Ajit Gulabchand-promoted HCC.

?The additional solicitor general has informed the high court that he will have to take instructions from the ministry of environment & forests whether construction can be allowed, pending final order on the show cause notice,? Lavasa Corporation said in a statement Thursday. Arun Bodupali, senior vice-president, legal, Lavasa Corp, told FE that the company had submitted a list of ongoing construction activities to the ministry. ?We have said that many of the projects are under construction, and that we fail to understand the environmental damage that they could cause.? The judge also asked ASG Kambatta to consider whether Lavasa Corporation could be granted a sort of post facto environmental clearance while taking a final decision on the show cause notice. The MoEF is supposed to file its reply on Dec 21, when the court is also likely to take decisions on the interim arrangement to allow the work until the MoEF concludes hearing on the show cause notice issued to Lavasa, and passes a final order.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government also alleged some irregularities had occurred in Lavasa hill city.