Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Establishes Joint Committee to Investigate Aravali Violations
In a decisive move to address environmental concerns, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar has constituted a four-member joint committee to investigate reports of illegal tree felling and unauthorized construction activities in the Aravali region of Raisina village, located within Sohna tehsil. This action comes in direct response to directives issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which is currently hearing a case on alleged environmental violations in the area.
Committee Mandate and Composition
The newly formed panel has been tasked with conducting a thorough site inspection at the Gair Mumkin Pahar land—a classification denoting uncultivable, rocky, or steep hill terrain—in Raisina. According to the official order from the Deputy Commissioner, the committee's primary objectives are to identify any violations of environmental and forest laws and to recommend both preventive and remedial measures to address these issues.
The committee comprises the following members:
- Chairperson: Sohna Sub-Divisional Magistrate
- Member: District Forest Officer or a representative from the Forest Department
- Member: Executive Officer of the Sohna Municipal Council
- Member Secretary: Regional Officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB)
This multidisciplinary team has been instructed to submit a detailed factual report along with an action-taken account. This documentation is crucial for enabling the filing of an affidavit before the NGT ahead of the next scheduled hearing on May 15.
Background and NGT Involvement
The matter was brought before the NGT following an application that alleged ongoing illegal tree cutting and construction activities within the Aravali landscape, an area strictly governed by environmental regulations. In response, the tribunal directed the Haryana Chief Secretary to ensure that no such illegal activities occur and required authorities to submit an affidavit detailing the actions taken. Furthermore, the NGT mandated that authorities prevent any illegal construction or tree felling while the case remains pending.
A Sohna civic body official confirmed the committee's intent, stating, "We will conduct an inspection as per the order and verify the status." The panel is expected to suggest comprehensive measures, which may include the demolition of illegal structures, restoration of the natural landscape, and the imposition of environmental compensation where deemed necessary.
Environmentalists Voice Ongoing Concerns
Environmental advocates have consistently raised alarms regarding construction and land-use changes in the Raisina hills of the Aravali range. This region serves as a critical ecological barrier and a vital groundwater recharge zone for Gurgaon and its surrounding areas. Colonel (Retired) SS Oberoi, a prominent environmentalist, expressed his concerns, noting, "There is no dispute that the Aravalis in Sohna's Raisina area faced encroachment. Even after so many court orders, the area is not yet restored by the district administration. We still hope action will be taken."
Historical Context of Aravali Violations
The issue of illegal activities in the Aravalis is not new. In 2024, the NGT took suo motu cognizance of a Times of India report detailing illegal construction at Ansals' Aravali Retreat in Raisina, describing the rebuilding of demolished structures as a "flagrant violation" of its earlier orders. Previously, in December 2022, the tribunal directed the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan to establish a monitoring committee and conduct periodic reviews until all encroachments were removed from Aravali land.
Further back, in 2018, the NGT ordered the restoration of all protected Aravali areas in Gurgaon and Faridabad. Although the Gurgaon district committee issued show-cause notices to property owners in 2020, the land under the Aravali Notification has yet to be fully restored as a forest. Enforcement actions have included the flattening of around 30 structures by the Sohna Municipal Council in 2021 and the issuance of approximately 195 show-cause notices to farmhouse owners for unauthorized construction in the Aravalis in 2019, many of which were located at Ansals' Aravali Retreat.
The formation of this joint committee represents a renewed effort by local authorities to comply with NGT directives and address long-standing environmental violations in the ecologically sensitive Aravali region. The outcome of their investigation and subsequent actions will be closely monitored by both the tribunal and environmental stakeholders.
