News: 50 huts razed, 4-acre forest land cleared-10-08-2021
Gurgaon: Around 50 shanties built on forest land in Kadarpur area were pulled down on Monday clearing about 4 acre.
Karambir Malik, forest range officer, Gurgaon, said a similar drive would be carried out in Basai next week to remove encroachments on 3 acre forest land. “We have already issued demolition notices to the people who are living in the shanties. Last week, we had given notices to the people in Kadarpur as well,” he added. In Basai, there are about 60 shanties, officials have said.
Speaking about forest land that is being cleared of encroachments, Malik said: “We will carry out plantation drives in the area to restore the green cover. We have fenced the forest area in an attempt to keep away squatters.”
The land at Kadarpur and Basai was recently handed over to the forest department by local civic agencies in exchange of green areas utilised for development projects.
Meanwhile, the forest department, along with the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), is working on a plan to remove encroachments from green zones of Gurgaon. “We are planning to clear green belts across the city as well,” Malik said.
Residents said that with shanties being built in forest areas, several shops and small markets are also coming up. “This is a much-needed development. Grocery stores, eateries and small markets are coming up in these areas slowly and they are getting crowded,”' city resident Ram Pal said.
