Judiciary, public agencies crack down on illegal construction in Aravallis

Gururgam: The public agencies along with the judiciary have begun to take a strict stance against the illegal structures that have come up at the Aravallis.

After the supreme court ordered Kant enclave would be razed recently the National Green Tribunal (NGT) also cited that the police lines built along the Manesar forest area were illegal.

The NGT in its recent order had ruled that a police training and research centre of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Bhondsi, has been built on forest land without obtaining clearances required under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980.

Earlier this year, in response to a petition filed by the former sarpanch of Manesar panchayat, Ram Avtar Yadav, the NGT had sought a "factual and action-taken report" from the Haryana forest department to determine any irregularities in the matter.

Not only the Judiciary but even the government agencies have begun to take cognisance of the illegal constructions that have come up in the forested area. According to government sources, the Chief Minister office has sought a report on the list of the illegal farmhouses that have been built around the Aravallis.

Moreover, the state vigilance has sought records of all the officers and registrars who have been charged with conspiring with the property sharks and involved in illegal transaction of forest land in Aravallis.

Moreover, the vigilance officials have asked for records of all the officers starting from the year 1992

Even though it contributes to the maximum share of the 8 per cent green cover of Gurugram, rapid urbanisation, illegal encroachments and rapid extinction of natural aquifers are seen as major factors for quick deterioration of Aravallis. There are as many as 30 cases that are held up in various courts regarding illegal encroachment of Aravallis in Gurugram. There have also been reports of illegal mining and incidents of tree felling due to upcoming reality projects over there.

"There are various challenges in preservation of Aravallis and the difficulties will only increase with the mass urbanisation of districts in Haryana. However, our officials are trying our best to preserve the green belt by taking various like fencing and planting new varieties of plants," said a senior official from Forest department (South Division).