Lavasa’s Special Planning Authority Status Comes To An End

The Special Planning Authority status of Lavasa Corporation Ltd., the real estate development arm of Ajit Gulabchand's Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. (HCC), has come to an end.

This follows the decision by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to extend the jurisdiction of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), a senior state government official told PTI.

"Now, Lavasa Corporation is also within the extended limits of PMRDA. As a result, the Special Planning Authority status of Lavasa Corporation has ended," the official said.

The Lavasa Corporation Limited, a private hill city developed by HCC near Pune, got the Special Planning Authority status in June 2008, the official added. It has faced criticism from social activists, alleging that it flouted environment norms.

Activist Vishwambhar Chaudhari recently accused Lavasa of "misusing the status of Special Planning Authority." "Lavasa is misusing Special Planning Authority status. “The Urban Development department has mentioned it itself. The department is under control of the chief minister. Now action is required," Chaudhari said.

When asked about the development, a spokesperson for HCC said "we are yet to receive any official communication on this and once we get it we will spell out our stand."