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Following the repeal of GRAP-3 restrictions, the forest department intends to carry out a demolition drive to free Aravalis from encroachment in the district. Beginning next week, it will demolish illegal structures on more than 20 acres of Aravali land in Abheypur near Damdama lake.
In the Sonya Ghosh case, the NGT ordered an end to illegal tree felling, construction activities, and the restoration of the forest in August 2020. The goal is to demolish 200 illegal structures in Aravalis within 15 days.
According to Gurugram divisional forest officer Rajiv Tejyan, 52 violations in areas protected under sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900 have been reported, and show cause notices have been issued to all violators.
“In Abheypur, we intend to demolish the farmhouse and restore the forest land,” Tejyan explained. He also stated that the Sohna municipal council will soon conduct demolitions in Raisina.
Once the forest has been restored, the district administration will conduct weekly drone surveys in the area to ensure that no further encroachments occur.
On July 21, this year, the Supreme Court ruled in the Narinder Singh vs
Divesh Bhutani case that land covered by special orders issued under Section 4
of the PLPA should be treated as forests and subject to the provisions of the
Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Haryana and Rajasthan
governments to take immediate action to remove illegal constructions in
Aravalis in September 2021. Both states have been given three months to submit
an action plan report.
This occurred during the hearing of a petition by Sonya Ghosh concerning illegal construction in the ‘gair mumkin pahar’ (uncultivable hill) area of the Aravalis hills in three districts of Haryana (Faridabad, Nuh, and Gurugram) and one district of Rajasthan.
At least 500 illegal farmhouses have been built on Aravali land in the district of Gurugram, primarily in Gwalpahari, Abheypur, Gairatpur Bas, Sohna, Raisina, and Manesar.
Source-ET
