The State Government will not press for demolition of construction on 681 hectares at the Lavasa Corporation project site near Pune, but will impose penalty on the company, said the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, on Tuesday.

The statement assumes significance as the matter comes up for hearing on Wednesday at the Bombay High Court.

The Lavasa Corporation has violated the Environment (Protection) Act by constructing on the 681 hectares at the project site, he said. Addressing the media at a hurriedly convened press conference on Tuesday, Mr Chavan said that out of the total project area of 2,000 hectares, violations were found on 681 hectares.

“There are some 34 environmental conditions, which the company will have to comply with,” he said.

The hill city project, promoted by Hindustan Construction Company Ltd has been in the news for the last one year for alleged violation of environmental norms. On June 10, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had directed the State government to take action against the company.

Law protecting journalists

In a separate development, Mr Chavan said that a law protecting journalist will come up for discussions at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. A draft of the law has been prepared.

“I will try and bring a consensus among my Cabinet colleagues about the law,” he said.

Giving an update on the murder of Mr J Dey, who was an editor with the Mid-day newspaper, Mr Chavan said that five police teams have been formed and are looking at various angles in the case.

“Daily some progress is happening in the case. We must give some time to Mumbai Police to crack the case. Their morale should not be weakened. It is too early to say whether the case could be handed over to CBI or not,” he said.

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