Trees felled in Mangar and Kot forest of Aravallis, say environmentalists

Gurugram: Being targeted by the land mafia for long due to its prime real estate significance, prominent environmentalists have alleged that there have been cases of telling felling reported from the Mangar and Kot forest.

Following the case, prominent environmentalists, Vaishali Rana and SS Oberoi have filed complaints to the authorities of Gurugram and Faridabad for taking action against the violators.

The complaints mentioned that the trees were felled so that the land can be made flat and can thereby be sold at attractive prices for the setting of farmhouses. "We have been assured action by the authorities that action will be taken against the violators. Even though the public officials have let the Aravallis down the villagers are still concerned about their forest," said SS Oberoi.

Despite being protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), the 435-acre green cover area of Mangar Bani continues to bear the brunt with the mafia brazenly defying the laws and felling the trees.

Even as the matter of providing proper definition to Aravallis thus providing it with the status of the forested area remains pending in the Apex court, cases of real estate developments on the green cover area of Aravallis continues to make the areas of Mangar Bani and Kot an easy target for the land mafia.

Not only is the lack of proper delineation but dual laws also prevent the forest conservators to protect the forest area of Aravallis.

Presently according to Indian forest act only 4 percent of the area of Aravallis in Gurugram is notified as a

forest.