Lavasa

Lavasa
city
View of Lavasa hills
Lavasa Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°24′19″N 73°30′23″E / 18.40528°N 73.50627°E / 18.40528; 73.50627Coordinates: 18°24′19″N 73°30′23″E / 18.40528°N 73.50627°E / 18.40528; 73.50627
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Pune
Area
• Total	100 km2 (40 sq mi)
Elevation	640 m (2,100 ft)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	412107
Website	www.lavasa.com

Lavasa is a private,^[1] planned city being built near Pune.^[2]

A 25,000 acres (100 km²)^[1] or 8,000 acres (32 km²)^[3] project being developed by HCC,^[4] this as-yet-incomplete city has been controversial for multiple reasons including procurement of land,^[5] harm to the environment,^[1] and loans acquired through political corruption.^[6]

In late 2010 the Indian Environment and Forests ministry ordered that construction cease because the project violated environmental laws.^[7] As of late 2011, this order has been rescinded.^[8] The project's scale may have been reduced, however, and an initial public offering may not occur.^[8] The head of the company building the project said in 2013 that due to the Environment and Forest Ministry the project had "lost three years."^[9]

History

Billed as India's newest hill station since Independence,^[10] this private city is being constructed by Lavasa Corporation, a unit of Ajit Gulabchand's Hindustan Construction Company.^[11]

Land

The area demarcated for Lavasa is located near Pune in the Mose valley^[5] of the Western Ghats.^[12]

Current progress

Construction of two out of the five planned towns is ongoing, and a number of residences have been completed as of 2013.^[9] By 2011 four hotels and a city centre were completed.^[13] A primary, middle, and high school, Le Mont High, has been constructed as well.^[14] Le Mont allows children of Lavasa residents to be educated inside the city's walls.^[14] The town also boasts a hospitality management college that is an overseas extension of the École hôtelière de Lausanne of Switzerland, École hôtelière Lavasa.^[15]

Administration

Scot Wrighton is the administrator of the city as of 2011.^[16]

Surrounding villages

Smaller, pre-existing communities sometimes interact with Lavasa and its residents. Some have been the focus of CSR efforts,^[17] and villagers provide construction labour to the project.^[18]

Future plans

Lavasa has established a pattern of promoting planned partnerships with prestigious, overseas institutions that do not, ultimately, see fruition. Oxford University had at one time attached itself to the project, but other, name-brand plans including future sports facilities have yet to be officially cancelled.

The city has a better track record when it comes to construction; some sections are complete today. It is thought that Lavasa will not be finished before 2020, however.^[19] After fully built, its total population may be 200,000,^[20] and it will comprise four or five towns built on seven hills.^[21] The first of these, Dasve, was initially slated to be complete by 2010^[10] although some residences there were still under construction as of 2013.^[9] Mugaon, the second town, may be finished in 2013,^[19] and as of May, 2013, construction continues.^[9] Work on this town began in mid-2012.^[22] In 2013 the chairman of the construction company building the project confirmed that Lavasa will include four large towns and one low-cost town.^[9]

Sports facilities

Planned sports facilities include a Nick Faldo-designed golf course and a Manchester City-branded football academy.^[23]

However, the Nick Faldo website no longer touts the golf course,^[24] and a 2010 press release is the sole communication Manchester City has made in reference to a football academy.

Theme park

A theme park of over 65 acres (0.26 km²) in size is planned.^[25]

Education

Lavasa may go on to host one university.^[12] Initially partnering with Oxford University,^[26][27] by 2010 this British institution had removed itself from the project.^[20] As of 2010, Symbiosis International University is planning to set up a new liberal arts college campus at the township.^[28]

Other facilities

A 200 acre health and wellness centre^[26] and an herb plantation^[29] are also planned.

Awards and recognition

Lavasa has won several awards for its plans and designs. In 2005 Dasve village in Lavasa won awards from the Congress for the New Urbanism and the American Society of Landscape Architects.^[30] In 2009 the St. Louis chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recognised the Lavasa landscape master plan with a merit award.^[31]

Controversies

Environmental damage

An Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests team investigating Lavasa concluded the city has caused environmental damage.^[1][32] Post reviewing the project, this ministry provided clearance on 9 November 2011 to Lavasa with specific conditions, such as a cessation of hill cutting activities, building of a sewage treatment plant, and anti-poverty CSR measures aimed at the local population.^[33]

Quarrying

While Lavasa has stone crushing permits, its operations have been described as "hill cutting" and "quarrying" by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the environmental impact of these activities was investigated.^[34]

Land acquisition

Both government and individual land owners have taken issue with Lavasa's land acquisition approach.

A report by the Maharashtra environment department claims 600 hectares (6.0 km²) of land bought by Lavasa Corporation was purchased from farmers who had been granted it by the Indian State. Because of the way in which the farmers obtained the land, three fourths of the purchase price should have been paid to the State. The report states Lavasa Corporation only paid 2%. It also alleges 141 hectares (350 acres) of Lavasa were leased for far less than actual value by the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation and that Lavasa bought 98 hectares (240 acres) of land without license.^[35]

Some say land Lavasa is being built on was obtained through coercion.^[5] Lavasa Corporation denies this.^[13]

Use of water resources

Lavasa will use the same water resources that currently supply Pune, and it is claimed that this will cause a supply shortage.^[29] A 2011 report by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment Ministry concluded there will be no impact on Pune's water supply, however.^[36]

Orders to halt construction

For a one year period from late 2010 to late 2011, construction of Lavasa had to be halted due to orders issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.^[8] In late 2010 it ordered Lavasa Corporation to halt further construction for not having gathered proper clearances.^[7] In November 2011 this ministry relented, and construction is no longer impeded by law.^[8] While grant of an environmental clearance was recommended in May 2011, Lavasa was only alerted to the fact that clearance was granted on 9 November 2011.^[37]

Nepotism

Sharad Pawar, an Indian politician born in the state of Maharashtra, is alleged to have demanded compensation for allowing Lavasa to be constructed. When Lavasa Corporation was receiving necessary clearances from the government of Maharashtra, relatives of Pawar had part-ownership of the company developing the project.^[38] Pawar's daughter and son-in-law had more than 20% ownership between 2002 and 2004, and they later sold their stakes.^[13] A nephew of his was chairman of Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation when it signed off on lease agreements for Lavasa and allowed Lavasa to store water and build dams.^[38]

References

Western Ghats Rivers Bhadra Bhavani Bhima Chalakudy Chittar Godavari Gurupura Kabini Kali Kallayi Kaveri Koyna Krishna Kundali Malaprabha Manimuthar Netravati Pachaiyar Parambikulam Saraswati Savitri Sharavathi Tambaraparani Tapti Tunga Venna Regions Desh, Maharashtra Goa Gap Konkan Malabar Malenadu North Malabar Kongu Nadu Palakkad Gap Tulu Nadu Hills Agastya Mala Anamala Anamudi Anginda Banasura Peak Biligirirangana Betta Brahmagiri Cardamom Chembra Peak Doddabetta Gangamoola Harishchandragad Kalsubai Kemmangundi Kudremukh Kodachadri Kumara Parvata Mahabaleshwar Mullayanagiri Marunthuvazh Malai Nilgiri Palni Ponmudi Pushpagiri Pythalmala Salher Sispara Sonsogor Tadiandamol Taramati Vellarimala Ranipuram Vagamon Waterfalls Abbey Chunchanakatte Dudhsagar Falls Gokak Irupu Jog Kalhatti Mallalli Falls Sathodi Lushington Sivasamudram Athirapally Falls Vazhachal Falls Hogenakkal States Tamil Nadu Gujarat Karnataka Kerala Maharashtra Goa Parks & Reserves Annekal Reserved Forest Anshi National Park Aralam Reserved Forest Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve Agasthyavanam Biological Park Bandipur National Park Bannerghatta National Park Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Chandoli National Park Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Dandeli National Park Eravikulam National Park Grass Hills National Park Indira Gandhi National Park Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Karian Shola National Park Karnala Bird Sanctuary Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary Kudremukh National Park Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary Mudumalai National Park Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Mukurthi National Park Nagarhole Rajiv Gandhi National Park New Amarambalam Reserved Forest Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Palani Hills National Park Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary Periyar National Park Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Silent Valley National Park Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Places Khandala Lonavla Lavasa Mahabaleshwar Matheran Chiplun Tamhini Panchgani Kudremukh Kodagu Karjat Kasara Ghats Amboli Ghat Bhor Ghat Tamhini Ghat Amba Ghat Bhor Road Ghat Chorla Ghat Goa Gap Kasara Road Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Palakkad Gap Varandha Ghat Related Mountains of Kerala