Lavasa seeks six weeks to time from Enviroment Ministry

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Having been given a lifelineby the Environment Ministry, Lavasa Corporation today soughtsix weeks time to arrive at a negotiated settlement on itsambitious hill city project in Pune.

"Lavasa Corporation has asked for an extension of sixweeks as Lavasa has submitted relevant documents requested bythe MoEF in their final Order dated January 17, 2011," thecompany said in a statement here.

Lavasa said it had discussed the matter withEnvironment Minister Jairam Ramesh and "has asked for time toconsider a solution."

On Monday, Ramesh had said efforts are being made tofind a "negotiated solution" on the stalled Rs 3,000-croreproject in Pune.

"We are trying to find a negotiated solution...tryingto find a compromise," Ramesh had told reporters when askedabout his meeting with officials from the HindustanConstruction Company Limited, which is undertaking thetownship project.

Giving a ray of hope for Lavasa, which allegedlyviolated green norms, the Environment Ministry had last weeksaid that it was prepared to consider the project beingconstructed near Pune on "merits" subject to fulfillment ofcertain conditions.

The Ministry, however, had ordered that no furtherconstruction should be undertaken for now.