Aravalli land sale to forest official’s wife under lens

GURUGRAM: The additional principal chief conservator of forests, Haryana, said he will investigate allegations that a relative of Faridabad’s district forest officer had purchased about a quarter of an acre of Aravalli common-use land last year.

Alok Varma, additional principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Haryana, said on Tuesday, “I have received the details of the case today. We will examine the jamabandi of the land (record of land rights) and take appropriate steps.”

Senior officials in the panchayat and revenue departments also said that they would open an inquiry on the receipt of a formal complaint. Environmentalists in Faridabad on Tuesday also lodged formal complaints with the state vigilance department, which is yet to reply.

It is alleged that Priya Punia, wife of DFO, Suresh Punia, had purchased five ‘kanal’, 14 ‘marla’ (about a quarter of an acre) of land in Mangar village from the previous owner at a cost of ₹10 lakh on March 11, 2019.

Suresh Punia did not respond to calls and messages, while Priya Punia could not be contacted despite multiple attempts. The chief conservator of forests, south Haryana, D Hembram, also did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment.

Environmentalists and locals of Mangar village have alleged that the plot in question comes under the land-use category of ‘gair mumkin pahar’, whose ownership status is presently in dispute, and whose conservation status is yet to be decided.