Demolition of illegal structures in Aravalli forest put on hold

Bijendra Ahlawat 
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, August 20

The move to remove the encroachments from the Aravallis belt has been put on hold by the authorities concerned without providing any official reason. 

The authorities concerned had earlier proposed to raze several unauthorised constructions today, but the move was suspended at the last minute apparently in view of the upcoming state Assembly elections. 

The demolition would have been the second major drive after the recent pulling down of 44 houses in Kant Enclave of Surajkund, which came under the protected forest zone.

While the officials concerned were not available to offer a reason for abandoning the demolition, departmental sources claimed that it was possibly due to the forthcoming Assembly elections. While District Forest Officer Suresh Punia and Range Officer Ramesh Saini did not take the phone calls, the Principal Chief Conservator Forest at Chandigarh also was unavailable for an official version.                      

The DC, Atul Kumar, who had issued the order on July 19 over the appointment of an HCS officer as Duty Magistrate for maintaining law and order during the removal of the encroachments to be held on August 20, said he had no information about the status of the matter as it was a departmental issue.

However, Prashant Atkan, HCS, who had been appointed as Duty Magistrate said he had been informed about the suspension of the move by the forest department a couple of days back.                             

The issue of large-scale encroachments and illegal construction in the Aravallis which falls under the protected forest land covered by the Punjab Land Preservation Act had surfaced last year when the then Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Faridabad, had prepared a report of about 140 unauthorised farmhouses there. But he was transferred out before the demolition could be taken up. The department concerned has now identified 66 unauthorised constructions, which have been served notices.

L.N Parashar a local lawyer had filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court recently, accusing the authorities, of failing to curb illegal mining in the forest belt.  

66 unauthorised constructions 

• The issue of large-scale encroachments and illegal construction in the Aravallis had surfaced last year when the then Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Faridabad, had prepared a report of about 140 unauthorised farmhouses there. 
• The Commissioner was transferred out before the demolition could be taken up. 
• The forest department then identified 66 unauthorised constructions, which were served notices. The demolition of these units was to begin on Tuesday.