Gurugram: Kept in abeyance for long, the officials have granted permission to cut trees in eight acres of Aravalli forest around Ghata village to build a road connecting Golf Course Extension. The move has been objected by the environmentalists.
Citing their displeasure, the environmentalists have said that they will try to challenge the decision in the judiciary. The move to build the road comes at a time when the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) have been served notices for not planting over 80 trees that were axed in Sirhaul.
A large part of Aravalli is vulnerable due to encroachment from land mafias and various development projects, which if implemented can adversely affect the forest
area.
Recently, a complaint has been registered of encroachment by land mafia and destroying the Aravalli hillocks at Darbaripur, which is located at South Peripheral Road and provides a profitable real estate proposition for the builders. There are reports of damage of over 20 acres of Aravalli around the area.
Despite several complaints, Aravallis in and around Gurugram continue to bear the brunt of Illegal mining, encroachment, diminishing green cover in Gurugram and Faridabad belt.