News: NGT issues notices over illegal construction at Ansals Aravali Retreat-29-08-2024
Taking suo-motu cognisance of a TOI report on illegal construction at Ansals Aravali Retreat in Raisina, the National Green issued notices to authorities and said that rebuilding of razed structures was a "flagrant violation" of its previous orders
The bench of NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel on Aug 23 directed Haryana chief secretary, principal chief conservator of forest, Haryana space application center and Gurgaon district magistrate to respond at least a week before the next date of hearing on Dec 3.
Titled ‘Gurgaon farmhouses back: Raze & rebuild cycle ensures Raisina never heals', TOI reported on July 28 that farmhouses demolished just 15 days ago were being reconstructed in Raisina hills. New roads were also being laid down on protected forest land and electricity poles were being installed.
The report also said that some farmhouse owners were pasting "court orders" on their gates and claiming that their properties cannot be razed.
There are no court orders to that effect. In the latest directive, NGT noted that Aravali land in Raisina was ‘gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable hill)' and thereby protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) and the Aravali Notification. The two regulations prohibit construction and tree felling without permission from the authorities. The tribunal said that reconstruction was a "flagrant violation" of its 2022 ruling in the Sonya Ghosh vs State of Haryana and others case. In this order, NGT had directed Haryana and Rajasthan govts to remove all encroachments on protected Aravali land, create a monitoring committee and revive degraded forest areas.
"The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms, especially compliance of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986," the order said.
The tribunal underscored the ecological significance of Raisina hills, which serve as a wildlife corridor between Sariska National Park in Rajasthan and Asola Bhatti Wildlife sanctuary in Delhi. Asked about the direction, a Haryana forest department official told TOI on Wednesday: "We haven't received any direction yet. We will submit the response as directed."
