New Delhi, June 10 (PTI): The environment ministry today asked the Maharashtra government to take action against Lavasa Corporation for undertaking constructions at its hill project in Pune without green nod.

In a letter to the Maharashtra government, the Union ministry said while evaluating a request for green clearance for the development of 2000-hectares hill station township “it was found that constructions/developments in 681-hectares area was in progress without obtaining prior environmental clearance”.

Noting that it had issued showcause notices on November 25 last year and “final directions” on January 17 this year, the ministry said the constructions/developments in the 681-hectare area “are violations” of Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

The Union ministry asked the Maharashtra environment ministry to “initiate necessary action” under the Act “against violation of the Act”.

The Maharashtra government has been asked to inform the Union ministry about the action taken at the earliest.

The action comes even as the environment ministry prepares to make known its decision on phase-I of the controversial project on June 15 when the matter comes up in Bombay High Court.

“Whatever we have to say will be presented in the HC (high court) on June 15,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said when asked about the fate of the project.

The ministry will take a decision on the basis of a report of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), which has recommended conditional approval to Lavasa Corporation, a subsidiary of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC). Ramesh said EAC, set up by the ministry, has made recommendations but those have a “very large number of conditions” attached to them.

“The full picture will be presented to the court,” he said.

When asked about Lavasa’s statement welcoming EAC recommendations, Ramesh said: “Any welcome or criticism is, therefore, premature and could well be misplaced.”

Earlier in the day, HCC’s chairman and managing director, Ajit Gulabchand, said in Mumbai that the EAC has recommended clearances for Lavasa’s first phase of 2,000- hectares hill town project with “some conditions”.

Lavasa also issued a statement in New Delhi welcoming the EAC's recommendation.