Hiranandani Group flouts green norms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pune, Maharashtra, India, Republic of (Free-Press-Release.com) May 19, 2011 -- The principal secretary of Maharashtra's environment ministry has been summoned to face trial in a criminal case for granting illegal environment clearances to a power project of Hindustan Electricity Generation Company promoted by Hiranandani Group in Pune.

The chairmen and members of the State Expert Appraisal Committee and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority have also been summoned to face trial in a court in Vadgaon.

The criminal case has been filed by Navlakh Umbre Paryavaran Parisar Vikas Sangh, comprising villagers in Navlakh Umbre in Taluk Maval, near Pune.

Villagers accuse the Mumbai-based Hiranandani Group of changing plans of building a residential project to a power project under suspicious circumstances.

Villagers have alleged that the Hiranandani Group bought land from them at a very reasonable rate for the residential project. The group bought a total of 234 acres of land near Navlakh Umre village but later changed the plan to a 2500-megawatt power project. Work has already started on a 355-megawatt unit of the project. Villagers claim the project will pollute their area which is just 2 km away. The Hiranandani Group acknowledges that it has changed the plan from residential to power plant but insists all necessary permissions were taken.
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/hiranandani-group-in-green-norms-row/1/129469.html

HEGC     Hindustan Electricity Generati     Hiranandani Group     Navlakh Umbre