Lavasa

Lavasa
Lavasa
—  city  —
Lavasa
Location of Lavasa
in Maharashtra and 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(s) Pune
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
Area 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi)
Website www.lavasa.com

Lavasa (Marathi: लवासा) 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 requested that construction cease because the project violated environmental laws.[7]

Contents

History

Billed as India's first hill station since Independence,[8] this private city is being constructed by a unit of Ajit Gulabchand's Hindustan Construction Company, Lavasa Corporation.[9]

Land

The area demarcated for Lavasa is located near Pune in the Mose valley[5] of the Western Ghats.[10]

Lavasa Corporation

Currently majority owned by Hindustan Construction Company,[11] Lavasa Corporation is responsible for the construction of the city. It is preparing to make an initial public offering,[11] although this has been temporarily postponed.[12]

Legal name

Originally registered as Pearly Blue Lake Resorts Pvt Ltd in 2000, the company changed its name to The Lake City Corporation Pvt Ltd later that year and around 2004 changed it again to its current name, Lavasa Corporation.[13]

Ownership

As of late 2010 ownership of Lavasa Corporation is Hindustan Construction Company (64.99%), Avantha Group (16.25%), Venkateshwara Hatcheries (12.8%), and individual investor Vinay Vithal Maniar (6%).[11]

Current progess

As of 2011 four hotels and a city centre have been completed.[14]




Plans

While some sections are complete, construction of Lavasa will not be finished before 2020.[15] Total population when complete will be an estimated 200,000.[16] When complete it will comprise four or five towns built on seven hills.[17] The first of these, Dasve, was supposed to be complete by 2010.[8] Mugaon, the second, may be finished by 2013.[15]

Sports facilities

Planned sports facilities include a Nick Faldo-designed golf course, a Manchester City-branded football academy, and a Hockey Australia hockey academy.[18]

Theme park

A theme park over 65 acres (0.26 km2) in size is planned.[19]

University

Lavasa will host at least one university.[10] Initially Lavasa had a partnership with Oxford University,[20][21] but by 2010 this British institution had removed itself from the project.[16] As of 2010, Symbiosis International University is planning to set up a new liberal arts college campus at the township.[22]

Other facilities

A 200 acre health and wellness center[20] and an herb plantation[23] are also planned.


CSR

Lavasa Corporation has initiated a number of CSR programs that target Lavasa and its environs. These include providing vocational training and employment opportunities for locals already living near Lavasa and hosting Diwali festivities for primary school students from nearby villages.[24]

Education

Lavasa will offer a range of educational choices to its residents as well as those who simply come to study.

Hospitality extension campus

Ecole Hoteliere Lavasa is a hospitality management college in Lavasa and an overseas extension of the École hôtelière de Lausanne of Switzerland.[25]

School

A primary, middle, and high school, Le Mont High allows children of Lavasa residents to be educated inside the city's walls.[26]

Future university

Lavasa will host at least one university.[10] Initially Lavasa had a partnership with Oxford University,[20][21] but by 2010 this British institution had removed itself from the project.[16] As of 2010, Symbiosis International University is planning to set up a new liberal arts college campus at the township.[27]

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.[28] In 2009 the St. Louis chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recognized the Lavasa landscape master plan with a merit award.[29]

Controversies

Lavasa is controversial for many reasons.

Bribes for loans

Lavasa Corporation is accused of benefiting from loans obtained through bribery.[6]

Environmental damage

An Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests team investigating Lavasa concluded the city has caused environmental damage.[1][30]

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 has been under investigation.[31]

Land acquisition

Both government and individual land owners displaced 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 (1.41 km2) of Lavasa were leased for far less than actual value by the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation and that Lavasa bought 98 hectares (0.98 km2) of land without license.[11]

Some say land Lavasa is being built on was obtained through coercion.[5] Lavasa Corporation denies this.[14]

Nepotism

Sharad Pawar, an Indian politician born in the state of Maharashtra, may 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.[32] A daughter and son-in-law of Pawar had more than 20% ownership between 2002 and 2004 and later sold their stakes.[14] A nephew of his was chairman of Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) when the MKVDC signed off on lease agreements for Lavasa and allowed it to store water and build dams.[32]

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.[23] 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.[33]

Orders to Halt Construction

Construction on Lavasa has been suspended due to allegations made by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests.[7] This Ministry contends Lavasa did not obtain necessary central government approval obtaining clearance only from the state of Maharashtra instead.[15]

In late 2010 it ordered Lavasa Corporation to halt further construction.[7]

On 15 October 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests once again refused to grant green clearance to the first phase of the project. The ministry's new order came after Bombay High Court last month directed it to pass the final order on the regularisation application of Lavasa Corporation with regard to constructions at township project near Pune in three weeks. [34]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "India rules hill city 'illegal'". bbc.co.uk. 19 January 2011 Last updated at 00:57 ET. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12223024. 
  2. ^ "UPDATE 1-India ministry sets terms to consider Lavasa approval". reuters.com. Tue Jan 18, 2011 7:58am EST. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/18/lavasa-order-idUSSGE70H0A320110118. 
  3. ^ "Biomimicry: Architecture That Imitates Life". harvardmagazine.com. September–October 2009. http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/architecture-imitates-life. 
  4. ^ "Lavasa Corporation Ltd: India's First Planned Hill City Deploys Portal Solution to Empower Employees; Increases Collaboration and Efficiency". microsoft.com. 5/31/2010. http://www.microsoft.com/Canada/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000007468. 
  5. ^ a b c "Howl of the hills". downtoearth.org.in. Sep 15, 2008. http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/4987. 
  6. ^ a b "Suzlon, Lavasa among named in India bribery scam-reports". Reuters. November 25, 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUKSGE6AO03620101125. 
  7. ^ a b c "Environment Ministry asks Lavasa to halt project". The Economic Times. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/construction/Environment-Ministry-asks-Lavasa-to-halt-project/articleshow/6994372.cms. 
  8. ^ a b "India's newest hill station builds for the future". AFP news hosted by google.com. Sep 15, 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iK6NTbE21WwVHWmJI-4JwBO3LUsg. 
  9. ^ "HCC's Lavasa court hearing adjourned for 6 weeks". reuters.com. Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:31am EST. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/27/lavasa-hearing-idUSSGE70Q0AK20110127. 
  10. ^ a b c "A Stop in India’s Lavasa". forbes.com. Dec. 20 2010. http://blogs.forbes.com/timferguson/2010/12/20/a-stop-in-indias-lavasa/. 
  11. ^ a b c d "SHOWCAUSE NOTICE: JAIRAM ORDERS WORK TO STOP - Lavasa lands in trouble for flouting green laws". The Economic Times. November 27, 2010. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/ETNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETD%2F2010%2F11%2F27&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00100&AppName=1. Retrieved February 09, 2011. 
  12. ^ "Lavasa IPO may face delay: HCC Chairman". Business Standard. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lavasa-ipo-may-face-delay-hcc-chairman/118365/on. 
  13. ^ "Pawars no strangers to big land projects". http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pawars-no-strangers-to-big-land-projects_1194953-all. 
  14. ^ a b c Byatnal, Amruta (October 31, 2010). "Symbolic of luxury, Lavasa is built on irregularities". The Hindu (Pune). http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article859868.ece. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
  15. ^ a b c "The hills are alive with the sound of controversy". business-standard.com. September 7, 2010, 1:49 IST. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/the-hillsalivethe-soundcontroversy/407277/. 
  16. ^ a b c Thekaekara, Tarsh. "The great urban juggernaut". New Internationalist. http://www.newint.org/columns/currents/2010/05/01/lavasa-indias-first-private-city/. Retrieved February 9, 2011. 
  17. ^ For four towns, see Discover Lavasa: Master Plan; A vision becomes reality Lavasa Official Site
  18. ^ For the golf course, see Faldo signs ‘stunning’ Indian course design project nickfaldo.com, 8th June 2009
  19. ^ http://www.financialexpress.com/news/lavasa-to-host-spaceworld-asias-first-space-edutainment-centre-at-rs-400-crore-investment/413522/
  20. ^ a b c A modern township nestled in the Sahyadris thehindubusinessline.in, 2008/06/22
  21. ^ a b Oxford dragged into ‘land-grab’ scam thehindu.com, by Hasan Suroor. Monday, Aug 31, 2009
  22. ^ Symbiosis to start liberal arts institute indianexpress.com,Thu Mar 04 2010
  23. ^ a b Water being diverted to Lavasa, alleges Patkar expressindia.com, Jul 08, 2009 at 0511 hrs IST
  24. ^ For vocational training, see Lavasa empowers youth from 18 villages indiainfoline.com, Oct 19, 2010
  25. ^ Ecole Hoteliere Lavasa ecolehotelierelavasa.com
  26. ^ From the Head of School's Desk Le Mont High official site, retrieved: 31.8.2011
  27. ^ Symbiosis to start liberal arts institute indianexpress.com,Thu Mar 04 2010
  28. ^ For Congress for the New Urbanism award, see Charter Awards: Past Winners Congress for the New Urbanism Official Website
  29. ^ The 2009 St. Louis Chapter of ASLA Award Winners stlouisasla.org
  30. ^ "Maharashtra govt gets MoEF order for action against Lavasa". Business Standard. Jun 11, 2011. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/maharashtra-govt-gets-moef-order-for-action-against-lavasa/438696/. 
  31. ^ Byatnal, Amruta (Feb 18, 2011). "Lavasa under scanner for quarrying". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/18/stories/2011021852450500.htm. 
  32. ^ a b Vaidya, Abhay (Dec 26, 2010). "Lavasa trail reinforces the Sharad Pawar connection & IPL link". Pune: DNA. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/special_lavasa-trail-reinforces-the-sharad-pawar-connection-and-ipl-link_1486204. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
  33. ^ Lavasa showed higher FSI : Jairam Ramesh's MoEF Committee rtn.asia, 05/24/2011
  34. ^ [1] Big blow to Lavasa city project, Oct 15, 2011

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lavasa — Lavasa …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • lavaşa — I (Ağdam, Gəncə, Qubadlı, Salyan, Zəngilan) bax lavaş. – Alınça lavaşası çox turş olur (Gəncə); – Bir az lavaşa ver, atın yarasına çəkim (Qubadlı); – Nənəm lavaşa çıxardır (Zəngilan) II (Gəncə, Qubadlı, Ordubad) 1. nallanarkən atın üst dodağını… …   Azərbaycan dilinin dialektoloji lüğəti

  • lavasa — (Salyan) iri kəsək. – Yer dəmir kimidi, traxtır şumladığçan lavasa çıxır …   Azərbaycan dilinin dialektoloji lüğəti

  • lavasa-lavasa — (Lənkəran) qat qat. – O cürə lavasa lavasa dəmirdən bu puçi qəyirmisə:n? …   Azərbaycan dilinin dialektoloji lüğəti

  • lavaşa — 1. bax lavaşana. <Maral:> Vaxtında . . lavaşana eləməsələr, <meyvəni> yığıbyığışdırmaq olmayacaq. Ə. Ə.. 2. is. məh. Atı nalladıqda ağzına, qulağına keçirilən burmac, tıxac …   Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti

  • Mercure Lavasa — (Lavasa,Индия) Категория отеля: 4 звездочный отель Адрес: 3 Dasve Circle Po Dasve Lavasa Taluk …   Каталог отелей

  • The Waterfront Shaw Lavasa — (Lavasa,Индия) Категория отеля: 4 звездочный отель Адрес: Village Dasve,T …   Каталог отелей

  • Medha Patkar — in 2002 Born 1 December 1954 (1954 12 01) (age 56) Organization National Alliance of People s Mo …   Wikipedia

  • Avantha Group — is a business conglomerate in India. Its chairman is Gautam Thapar.The group s business interests include power transmission and distribution equipment and services, paper and pulp, energy, infrastructure, food processing, farm forestry,… …   Wikipedia

  • suktinukas — Bendroji  informacija Kirčiuota forma: suktinùkas Kirčiuotė: 2 Rūšis: naujadaras Kalbos dalis: daiktavardis Kilmė: lietuvių Pateikta: 2015 03 30. Reikšmė ir vartosena Apibrėžtis: sukant, vyniojant į ritinėlį pagamintas valgis, paprastai su įdaru …   Lietuvių kalbos naujažodžių duomenynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”