Selja: With PLPA amendment, govt wants to destroy forests

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Kumari Selja today lashed out at the BJP government in the state for legislating the Punjab Land Preservation (Haryana Amendment) Act despite stern orders of the Supreme Court.

Selja, also Rajya Sabha MP, said the government wanted to destroy forest areas in the state to benefit a few. Citing revelations from an RTI application, Selja, in a statement released today, said despite the SC expressing displeasure over the Bill in March last year, the government got it approved from the Governor in June last year.

“The SC had said that through this law, the government was clearing way for regularising illegal constructions by violating rules. The government was trying to benefit its loved ones through this amendment,” she added.

She said at 3.5 per cent, Haryana had the least forest area in the country, which would further decrease after the enactment of this law. “With its implementation, forests will be destroyed, illegal mining and construction will be promoted,” she said.

On illegal mining, Selja said the CAG report had recently detected a major scam in the state. “This clearly shows that despite SC orders, the current government can go to any extent to benefit its supporters,” she added.