Lavasa

2021-08-18T12:12:17Z

2405:201:6007:490F:92B:87F8:BE60:3935: /* See also */

{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Lavasa
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Lavasahills.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = View of Lavasa hills
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India
| coordinates = {{coord|18.40528|N|73.50627|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pune district]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 100
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 630
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 412107
| registration_plate =
| website = {{URL|www.lavasa.com}}
| footnotes =
}}{{Update|part=|date=February 2021|reason=}}
'''Lavasa''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: {{lang|mr|लवासा}}, lavāsā) is a private,<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12223024|title=India rules hill city 'illegal'|publisher=BBC|date=19 January 2011}}</ref> [[planned city]] built near [[Pune, India|Pune]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lavasa-order-idUSSGE70H0A320110118|title=UPDATE 1-India ministry sets terms to consider Lavasa approval|work=Reuters|date=18 January 2011}}</ref> It is stylistically based on the Italian town [[Portofino]], with a street and several buildings bearing the name of that town.

A {{convert|25000|acre|km2}}<ref name=bbc/> or {{convert|8000|acre|km2}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/architecture-imitates-life|title=Biomimicry: Architecture That Imitates Life|publisher=harvardmagazine.com|date=September–October 2009}}</ref> project being developed by [[Hindustan Construction Company|HCC]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/Canada/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000007468|title=Lavasa Corporation Ltd: India's First Planned Hill City Deploys Portal Solution to Empower Employees; Increases Collaboration and Efficiency|publisher=microsoft.com|date=31 May 2010}}</ref> this as-yet-incomplete city has been controversial for multiple reasons including procurement of land,<ref name=water2/> harm to the environment,<ref name=bbc/> and loans acquired through political corruption.<ref name=loans4bribes>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUKSGE6AO03620101125|title=Suzlon, Lavasa among named in India bribery scam-reports|work=Reuters | date=25 November 2010}}</ref>

In late 2010, the [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|Indian Environment and Forests Ministry]] ordered that construction cease because the project violated environmental laws.<ref name=stopc/> As of late 2011, this order has been rescinded.<ref name=ipo2011/> The project's scale may have been reduced, however, and an [[initial public offering]] may not occur.<ref name=ipo2011>[http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-60497120111113 HCC to revamp Lavasa finances, decide on IPO] reuters.com, 13 November 2011</ref> The head of the company working on the project said in 2013 that due to the Environment and Forests Ministry, the project had "lost three years".<ref name=ipo2013>[http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/everything-is-backtable-including-lavasa-ipo-hcc_877396.html Everything is back on table including Lavasa IPO: HCC] moneycontrol.com, 29 May 2013</ref>

==History==
[[File:Lavasa Fortune Hotel courtyard, Lavasa, Maharashtra.jpg|thumb|Fortune Hotel, Lavasa]]
Billed as India's first [[hill station]] since [[Indian independence movement|independence]],<ref name=hills>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iK6NTbE21WwVHWmJI-4JwBO3LUsg|title=India's newest hill station builds for the future|date=15 September 2009}}</ref> this private city is being constructed by a unit of Ajit Gulabchand.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lavasa-hearing-idUSSGE70Q0AK20110127|title=HCC's Lavasa court hearing adjourned for 6 weeks|work=Reuters|date=27 January 2011}}</ref> The architectural team responsible for the design of the town wants it be an imitation of an Italian hill-side town<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kohli|first1=Kanchi (editor)|last2=Menon|first2=Manju (editor)|last3=Burte|first3=Himanshu|title=Business Interests and the Environmental Crisis|date=2016|publisher=Sage Publications, India|location=New Delhi|isbn=9789351508601|pages=70–73|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8kdDAAAQBAJ&q=lavasa+sharad+pawar+bribe&pg=PA60|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>

===Land===
The area demarcated for Lavasa is located near [[Pune]] in the Mulshi valley<ref name=water2/> of the [[Western Ghats]].<ref name=forbes>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/timferguson/2010/12/20/a-stop-in-indias-lavasa/|title=A Stop in India's Lavasa|work=Forbes|date=20 December 2010|first=Tim|last=Ferguson}}</ref>

===Current progress===
Construction of two out of the five planned towns is ongoing, and a number of residences have been completed as of 2013.<ref name=ipo2013/> By 2011 four hotels and a city centre were completed.<ref name=nepo/> A primary, middle, and high school, [[Le Mont High School, Lavasa|Le Mont High]], has been constructed as well.<ref name=lemont>[http://www.le-mont-high.org/about-message-head-of-school.htm From the Head of School's Desk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819222158/http://le-mont-high.org/about-message-head-of-school.htm |date=19 August 2011 }} Le Mont High official site. Retrieved 31 August 2011</ref> The town also boasts a hospitality management college, École hôtelière Lavasa.<ref>[http://www.ecolehotelierelavasa.com/ Ecole Hoteliere Lavasa] ecolehotelierelavasa.com</ref>

===Administration===
Scot Wrighton is the administrator of the city as of 2011.<ref name=Atlanticist>{{cite web | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/07/india-invents-a-city/308549/ | title=India Invents a City | publisher=Atlantic Media | work=The Atlantic | date=7 June 2011 | access-date=20 July 2013 | author=Kahn, Jeremy}}</ref>

===Surrounding villages===
Smaller, pre-existing communities sometimes interact with Lavasa and its residents. Some have been the focus of [[Corporate social responsibility|CSR]] efforts,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lavasa.com/lavasaadmin/pdfs/Lavasa%20Provides%20school%20uniforms%20to%20Under-Privledged%20students%20-%20Press%20Release.pdf | title=Lavasa Corporation provides school uniforms to underprivileged students from the local community | publisher=HCC | work=Lavasa Corporation | date=January 25, 2012 | access-date=14 September 2013}}
*{{cite web | url=http://www.lavasa.com/lavasaadmin/pdfs/Counseling%20Press%20Release%20September%2027%202012%20-%20Final.pdf | title=Lavasa organizes counselling sessions for Local youths | publisher=HCC | work=Lavasa Corporation | date=September 27, 2012 | access-date=14 September 2013}}</ref> and villagers provide construction labour to the project.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1511426/report-villagers-from-14-hamlets-supporting-lavasa-stage-protest | title=Villagers from 14 hamlets supporting Lavasa stage protest | publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd | work=DNA | date=Feb 22, 2011 | access-date=14 September 2013 | author=Dinghe, S}}</ref>

==Future plans==
Lavasa has established a pattern of promoting planned partnerships with prestigious, overseas institutions that do not ultimately see fruition. Oxford University had at one point associated itself with the project, but other, name-brand plans including future sports facilities have yet to be officially canceled.

The city has a better track record when it comes to construction; some sections are complete today. It is thought that Lavasa will not be finished before 2030 , however.<ref name="bs">{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/the-hillsalivethe-soundcontroversy/407277/|title=The hills are alive with the sound of controversy|work=Business Standard|date=7 September 2010 }}</ref> When fully built, its total population may be 200,000,<ref>{{cite web|last=Thekaekara|first=Tarsh|title=The great urban juggernaut|url=http://www.newint.org/columns/currents/2010/05/01/lavasa-indias-first-private-city/|work=New Internationalist|access-date=9 February 2011}}</ref> and it will consist of four or five towns built on seven hills.<ref>For four towns, see [http://www.lavasa.com/high/master_plan.aspx Discover Lavasa: Master Plan; A vision becomes reality] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124182317/http://lavasa.com/high/master_plan.aspx |date=24 November 2010 }} Lavasa Official Site
*For five towns, see [http://www.lavasa.com/high/files/Lavasa_EBrochure.pdf Lavasa: Life in Full] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216191410/http://lavasa.com/high/files/Lavasa_EBrochure.pdf |date=16 December 2010 }} Lavasa Official Site ('''Page 4''')
*For seven hills, see [http://www.lavasa.com/high/files/Lavasa_EBrochure.pdf Lavasa: Life in Full.] Lavasa Official Site ('''page 2''')</ref> The first of these, Dasve, was initially slated to be complete by 2010<ref name=hills/> although some residences there were still under construction as of 2013.<ref name=ipo2013/> Mugaon, the second town, may be finished in 2013,<ref name=bs/> and as of May, 2013, construction continues.<ref name=ipo2013/> Work on this town began in mid-2012.<ref name=help4locals>{{cite news | title =Medha Patkar will hold the torch at Lavasa camp | newspaper =Pune Mirror | date =11 May 2012 | url =http://www.punemirror.in/article/2/20120511201205110317458592daa7b13/Medha-Patkar-will-hold-the-torch-at-Lavasa-camp.html | access-date =2012-05-14 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120528235338/http://www.punemirror.in/article/2/20120511201205110317458592daa7b13/Medha-Patkar-will-hold-the-torch-at-Lavasa-camp.html | archive-date =28 May 2012 | df =dmy-all }}</ref> In 2013, the chairman of the construction company building the project confirmed that Lavasa will include four large towns.<ref name=ipo2013/>

===Sports facilities===
Planned sports facilities include a [[Nick Faldo]]-designed golf course and a [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]-branded football academy.<ref>For the golf course, see [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216044128/http://www.nickfaldo.com/archive/news/story/80 Faldo signs ‘stunning’ Indian course design project] nickfaldo.com, 8 June 2009 '''cached'''
*For the football academy, see {{cite web|url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2010/May/Blues-to-open-academy-in-India |title=Blues to open academy in India |access-date=28 May 2010 |date=28 May 2010 |publisher=Manchester City F.C. }}</ref>

However, the Nick Faldo website no longer touts the golf course,<ref>{{citation | title =Your search yielded no results |url=http://nickfaldo.com/search/node/lavasa| publisher= nickfaldo.com | access-date = 2013-09-13}}</ref> and a 2010 press release is the sole communication Manchester City has made in reference to a football academy.

===Theme park===
A [[theme park]] of over {{convert|65|acres|km2}} in size is planned.<ref>{{cite news | title =Lavasa to host SpaceWorld, Asia's first space edutainment centre at Rs400 crore investment | newspaper =The Financial Express | publisher =The Indian Express Limited | date =21 January 2009 | url =http://www.financialexpress.com/news/lavasa-to-host-spaceworld-asias-first-space-edutainment-centre-at-rs-400-crore-investment/413522/0 | access-date = 2012-05-14}}</ref>

===Education===
Lavasa may go on to host one university.<ref name=forbes/> Initially partnering with [[Oxford University]],<ref name=twentytwenty>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2008/06/22/stories/2008062251270100.htm A modern township nestled in the Sahyadris] ''Business Line''.in, 2008/06/22</ref><ref name=oxford>[https://archive.today/20130126021816/http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/31/stories/2009083161211800.htm Oxford dragged into ‘land-grab’ scam] ''The Hindu'', by Hasan Suroor. Monday, 31 August 2009</ref> by 2010 this British institution detached itself from the project.<ref>[http://www.newint.org/columns/currents/2010/05/01/lavasa-indias-first-private-city/ The great urban juggernaut: India’s first ‘private city’ will do nothing to help the poor] newint.org, 1 May 2010</ref> As of 2010, [[Symbiosis International University]] is planning to set up a new liberal arts college campus in the township.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/symbiosis-to-start-liberal-arts-institute/586682/ Symbiosis to start liberal arts institute]. ''The Indian Express'', 4 March 2010</ref> As of June 2020, Christ University at Lavasa (Dasve in Mulshi Taluka of Pune District - 412112) offers various UG and PG programmes. The courses include BA-LLB & BBA-LLB (Honours), BBA in Business Analytics, B.Com in Financial Analytics, B.Sc in Data Science, B.Sc in Economics & Analytics, M.Sc in Data Science, MA in Business Economics, M.Sc in Finance, MBA and PhD in few disciplines.

===Other facilities===
A {{convert|200|acre}} health and wellness centre<ref name=twentytwenty/> and an herb plantation<ref name=water1/> are also planned.

==Awards and recognition==
[[File:Lavasa Nightscape.jpg|thumb|Architecture at Lavasa]]
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]].<ref>For Congress for the New Urbanism award, see [http://www.cnu.org/awards/winners Charter Awards: Past Winners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731123053/http://www.cnu.org/awards/winners |date=31 July 2008 }} Congress for the New Urbanism Official Website
*For American Society of Landscape Architects award, see [http://www.asla.org/newsreleasedetails.aspx?id=7770&terms=Lavasa ASLA Announces 2005 Professional Awards] American Society of Landscape Architects Official Website, 7/11/2005</ref> In 2009, the St. Louis chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recognised the Lavasa landscape master plan with a merit award.<ref>[http://www.stlouisasla.org/2009-award-winners/ The 2009 St. Louis Chapter of ASLA Award Winners] stlouisasla.org</ref>

==Controversies==

===Environmental damage===
An Indian [[Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)|Ministry of Environment and Forests]] team investigating Lavasa concluded that the city has caused [[environmental degradation|environmental damage]],<ref name=bbc/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/maharashtra-govt-gets-moef-order-for-action-against-lavasa/438696/|title=Maharashtra govt gets MoEF order for action against Lavasa|date=11 June 2011|work=Business Standard}}</ref> since Lavasa is built "in the scenic hills of the Western Ghats, a [[UNESCO]] [[World heritage site]] known for its evergreen tropical forests that shelter 325 species of vulnerable or endangered animals, birds and fauna."<ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/how-the-unfinished-city-of-lavasa-became-a-nightmare-for-indian-banks-118061900095_1.html How the unfinished city of Lavasa became a nightmare for Indian banks]</ref>
Post reviewing the project, this ministry provided clearance on 9 November 2011 to Lavasa with specific conditions, such as a cessation of hill cutting activities, building of a sewage treatment plant, and anti-poverty CSR measures aimed at the local population.<ref>[http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Lavasa_order_Ph_1.pdf Indian Ministry of Environment and Forest Website]</ref>

====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 was investigated.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/18/stories/2011021852450500.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126001823/http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/18/stories/2011021852450500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2013|title=Lavasa under scanner for quarrying|first=Amruta|last=Byatnal|date=18 February 2011|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
In 2014, Mrs. Jayanti Natarajan, in her open letter to Congress president, stated that she had got a specific input from Mr. Rahul Gandhi's office to stall the project.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/full-text-of-jayanthi-natarajans-letter-to-sonia-gandhi/article6835522.ece</ref>

===Land acquisition===
Both government and individual land owners have taken issue with Lavasa's land acquisition approach.

A report by the [[Maharashtra]] environment department claims {{convert|600|ha|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 that {{convert|141|ha|acre}} of Lavasa were leased for far less than its actual value by the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation and that Lavasa bought {{convert|98|ha|acre}} of land without license.<ref name=ET-Nov27>{{cite news|title=SHOWCAUSE NOTICE: JAIRAM ORDERS WORK TO STOP – Lavasa lands in trouble for flouting green laws|url=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|access-date=9 February 2011|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=27 November 2010}}</ref>

Some also say that Lavasa is being built on what was obtained through coercion.<ref name=water2>{{cite web|url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/4987|title=Howl of the hills|publisher=downtoearth.org.in|author=Jamwal, Nidhi|date=15 September 2008}}</ref> However, Lavasa Corporation denies this.<ref name=nepo>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article859868.ece|title=Symbolic of luxury, Lavasa is built on irregularities|first=Amruta|last=Byatnal|date=31 October 2010|access-date=21 February 2011|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

===Use of water resources===
Lavasa will use the same water resources that currently supply [[Pune]], and it is claimed that this move is likely to cause a supply shortage.<ref name=water1>[http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/water-being-diverted-to-lavasa-alleges-patkar/486570/ Water being diverted to Lavasa, alleges Patkar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011195454/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/water-being-diverted-to-lavasa-alleges-patkar/486570/ |date=11 October 2012 }}, ''The Indian Express'', 8 July 2009</ref> A 2011 report by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment Ministry concluded that there will be no impact on Pune's water supply, however.<ref>[http://rtn.asia/451_lavasa-showed-higher-fsi-jairam-rameshs-moef Lavasa showed higher FSI : Jairam Ramesh's MoEF Committee] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415175122/http://rtn.asia/451_lavasa-showed-higher-fsi-jairam-rameshs-moef |date=15 April 2013 }} rtn.asia, 24 May 2011</ref>

===Orders to halt construction===
For a one-year period from late 2010 to late 2011, construction of Lavasa had to be halted due to orders issued by the [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]].<ref name=ipo2011/> In late 2010, it ordered Lavasa Corporation to halt further construction for not having gathered proper clearances.<ref name=stopc>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/construction/Environment-Ministry-asks-Lavasa-to-halt-project/articleshow/6994372.cms|title=Environment Ministry asks Lavasa to halt project|work=The Economic Times | date=26 November 2010}}</ref> In November 2011, this ministry relented, and construction is no longer impeded by law.<ref name=ipo2011/> While grant of an environmental clearance was recommended in May, 2011, Lavasa was only alerted to the fact that clearance was granted on 9 November 2011.<ref>{{cite conference | first = Paryavaran | last = Bhawan | title = Environmental Clearance for the Development of Hill Station Township at Village Mulshi and Velhe Talukas, District Pune, Maharashtra my M/s. Lavasa Corporation Ltd. —regarding. | publisher = Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests | date = 9 November 2011 | location = New Delhi | url = http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Lavasa_order_Ph_1.pdf | access-date = 2011-01-18}}</ref>

===Nepotism===
[[Sharad Pawar]], an Indian politician born in the state of Maharashtra, is alleged to 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.<ref name=nepotism1>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/special_lavasa-trail-reinforces-the-sharad-pawar-connection-and-ipl-link_1486204|title=Lavasa trail reinforces the Sharad Pawar connection & IPL link
|first=Abhay|last=Vaidya|publisher=DNA|date=26 December 2010|place=Pune|access-date=21 February 2011}}</ref> Pawar's daughter and son-in-law had more than 20% ownership between 2002 and 2004, and they later sold their stakes.<ref name=nepo/> A nephew of his was the chairman of Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation when it signed off on lease agreements for Lavasa and allowed Lavasa to store water and build dams.<ref name=nepotism1/>

==See also==
*[[Aamby Valley City]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Western Ghats}}

{{Portal|India}}

[[Category:Planned cities in India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Pune district]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Planned cities]]
[[Category:New Urbanism communities]]
[[Category:Resorts in India]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Environmental controversies]]
[[Category:Corruption in Maharashtra]]

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