php - Apache not loading htaccess but still rewriting -

i installed ubuntu on home computer dual boot.

i have htaccess in following path:

/var/www/html/cortana/html/.htaccess 

i'm using standard apache server version 2.4

now zend framework project sits at:

/var/www/html/cortana/html/index.php 

and access going http://localhost/cortana/html/index.php in browser.

here current .htaccess

setenv application_env development rewriteengine on rewritecond %{request_filename} -f [or] rewritecond %{request_filename} -s [or] rewritecond %{request_filename} -l [or] rewritecond %{request_filename} -d rewriterule ^.*$ - [nc,l] rewriterule ^.*$ index.php [nc,l] 

now when go index.php , type <?php echo getenv('application_env');die()?> no response

also, here error log:

[thu jan 21 03:00:06.542376 2016] [authz_core:error] [pid 5262] [client 127.0.0.1:52981] ah01630: client denied server configuration: /var/www/html/cortana/html/.htaccess 

however using mod rewrite module because handling redirects in application. also, if remove htaccess project html directory still works

i think might apache configuration issue due using project inside /var/www/html root path.

any why not using supplied htaccess project appreciated

try using code @ top of .htaccess file:

order deny,allow allow 

if it's still not working, please past .htaccess file @ root of project.

edit:

or in virtualhost configuration might add require granted. have @ this related question.