Lavasa gives a rap to environment ministry

Lavasa, which is a company backed by Hindustran Construction Company HCC), has alleged that in issuing a showcause notice to it, the ministry had “acted without jurisdiction and in haste without following the principles of natural justice.”

Replying to the notice on Monday, Lavasa said the ministry headed by Jairam Ramesh was acting under pressure from activists like Medha Patkar whom it dubbed a political activist.

“The showcause notice was issued in haste. It is ex parte without following any principles of  natural justice. No hearing was given though these allegations had been made to the minister  seven months ago. No notice was issued before the drastic order,” Lavasa said in a communiqué.

The MoE showcause notice was slapped on Lavasa Corporation for carrying out  more-than-stipulated construction in the $31 billion township being developed 60 km from Pune.

“The effort through the showcause notice appears to be to stall the IPO of Lavasa,” the company said. Lavasa has been planning a Rs 2,000 crore IPO.