Hazare slams Maha CM's stand on Lavasa

Slamming Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for asking the Centre to give green nod to the first phase of the controversial Lavasa project, Anna Hazare has accused him of violating his oath of office.

Hazare and social activist Medha Patkar, who heads the 'Jan Andolan' against the Lavasa project near Pune, have written a letter to Chavan on November 7, taking strong objection to his comments on the issue.

"It is strange and shocking that the Chief Minister has made a public utterance supporting the commencement of phase one of the project, with clearance from the Union Environment Ministry on the same day, when Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) filed a criminal complaint against Lavasa," the letter says.

"It is the constitutional obligation of the Chief Minister to act against Lavasa, without defending it", the letter said.

Hazare and Patkar have also accused Chavan of violating his oath of office with his stand on Lavasa and committing contempt of court, in view of the matter being sub-judice in the Bombay High Court, which had directed the state government to file a case against the promoters of the hill station project.

Last week, terming the Lavasa project as important to Maharashtra, Chavan had urged the Centre to give the green nod to the first phase of the proposed Hill City.

Chavan's request had come on the day when the Maharashtra government had filed a criminal case against Lavasa Corporation, the promoters of Lavasa Hill City, for the alleged violations of the Environment Protection Act (EPA).