In a fresh enforcement drive, the Haryana Forest Department has demolished illegal constructions sprawling across approximately 25 acres of ecologically sensitive land in the Raisina hills of the Aravalis in Gurgaon. This action comes despite repeated directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to the state government to clear encroachments from the protected forest area.
Demolition Drive Targets Pillars, Walls, and Borewell
Officials reported that the recent operation involved razing unauthorized structures and boundary walls. A borewell dug on the encroached land was sealed, and at two separate sites, pillars that appeared to be the groundwork for future construction were dismantled. To prevent further access, the department also blocked four roads that had been illegally built into the forest area.
Subhash Yadav, Conservator of Forest for South Haryana, detailed the findings, stating, "We found encroachment on forest land. A borewell was sealed, a boundary wall in 25 acres was demolished. In another area, we found groundwork for pillars." He further warned that the department plans to issue a public notice, urging people to voluntarily remove encroachments on land under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), Aravali plantation, and Sectors 4 and 5, as non-forest activities are prohibited there by various court orders.
A History of Violations and Legal Battles
The Raisina stretch has been under intense scrutiny for years. The NGT has been hearing multiple petitions concerning illegal land sales and construction in the area. The tribunal has consistently directed the Haryana government to prevent any non-forest use and restore degraded patches of the Aravalis.
This legal protection stems from a 1992 Aravali notification that explicitly prohibits the construction of buildings, boundary walls, and roads, as well as the felling of trees on such classified land without permission. The land in question is categorized as ‘gair mumkin pahad' (uncultivable hill), where all non-forest activity is barred by court orders.
Despite previous demolition drives, a visit by journalists earlier revealed that construction activity has persisted. Cement mixers were operational, labourers were seen working, and trucks ferried construction materials like sand and bricks up the slopes. New walls, buildings, and even gates were observed at several locations, indicating a blatant disregard for the law.
Failed Deterrence and Calls for Accountability
Environmental activists have expressed frustration over the cyclical nature of encroachment and demolition. Colonel (retd) SS Oberoi, an environmentalist, pointed out the lack of effective follow-through. "NGT over a year ago directed that illegal construction be razed and the area be restored, which did not yet happen. It seems like the administration isn't keen on following the tribunal's orders. There is no roadmap on how they are planning to go forward," he said.
The scale of the problem is vast. A prior forest department survey identified at least 500 illegal farmhouses on Aravali land in Gurgaon alone, with concentrations in areas like Gwalpahari, Abheypur, Sohna, Raisina, and Manesar.
In a significant move, the NGT in December 2022 directed Haryana and Rajasthan to establish a monitoring committee and conduct periodic reviews until all encroachments on "gair mumkin pahad" land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, and Alwar are removed. This order built upon a 2021 directive to clear illegal structures and restore forest land. Details of many such illegal constructions were formally presented before the tribunal in the Sonya Ghosh vs State of Haryana case.
The latest demolition drive underscores the ongoing tussle between real estate pressure on the Delhi-NCR fringe and the imperative to preserve the fragile Aravali ecosystem, which acts as a critical green lung and groundwater recharge zone for the region.
