Will Maharashtra bureaucrats clearing the Lavasa project face criminal proceedings?

THERE have been fears and tensions among Maharashtra bureaucrats as there were unconfirmed reports that criminal proceedings would be initiated against those officers who were part of the clearance of the mega township project --- Lavasa Hill City.

The work of the project located between Mumbai and Pune, was suspended exactly two years ago after the Union environment ministry found environmental norms were flouted. The dispute was then taken up by judiciary.

It’s not yet known whether politicians connected with the clearance of the project would be investigated.

What has worried some bureaucrats is the fact that the punishment under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act 1986 could be as severe as five years of imprisonment and a fine.

There are also fears that tough actions may stall future such mega township projects.

Action and Appointments

a) VN Rai, a 1977 batch Haryana cadre IPS and special DG BSF, has been appointed as director, SVP National Police Academy (NPA), Hyderabad. Rai will retire on December 31, 2012.

b) Ajay Bhattacharya, a 1977 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, took over as the secretary, department of fertilizers on Thursday. Bhattacharya was earlier working as administrator, Universal Services Obligation Fund under the department of telecommunications (DoT).

c) A number of bureaucrats and diplomats including defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and Indian Ambassador to Japan Aloke Prasad were a part of defence minister AK Antony’s delegation to Japan. The Indian team took up issues such as maritime security, anti-piracy measures, freedom of navigation and maintaining the security of sea lanes of communication etc. in the India-Japan defence ministers’ meeting held in Tokyo on Wednesday night.