Aravallis choking under pending legal issues

With real estate development in Gurugram undergoing a meteoric rise over the last three decades, the brunt of the harm caused by construction activities is being face by the city's green belt area.

After several cases of encroachment and illegal occupation were reported in Aravallis, the legal case which pertains to encroachment in the green belt area, violation of forest and environmental acts and illegal habitation, is being fought across different courts.

Based on official information, there are over 23 cases of the Aravallis that are pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, 12 cases in the National Green Tribunal, five cases in Civil Court and one case in the Supreme Court.

According to the data shared by the Gurugram Forest Division, there are over thirty cases where the Forest division is involved in instances of encroachment in the Aravallis.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court is also dealing with cases pertaining of labour issues and their wages.

Besides environmental activists, private builders have also petitioned their cases against the Gurugram Forest Division and the Haryana Government.

"There are several complex laws associated with the Aravallis and that has resulted in various parties to exploit the matter in the past. We are trying our best to conserve the forest areas in Aravallis, but making laws is not under us," said M D Sinha, Chief Forest Conservator, South Haryana.

Divisional Forest Officer Gurugram, R Anand said: "We are making sure that there are no encroachments in Aravallis. We have been able to get relief from the courts in certain legal issues, while there are many legal cases that are still being contested. Most of the cases are consuming a lot of time, owing to various complexities. Though we have been able to reduce a few of the fresh cases, there are several previous legal cases relating to the Aravallis.

Recently, the Municipal Commission of Gurugram (MCG) razed a few settlements and seized around 150 acre of the 464 acre of Gwal Pahari green belt area. Yet, it remains a challenge for the civic body to take ownership of the remaining area and remove the settlements as there is stay order from the court on the remaining area.