Discrepancies in NCR board plan, green areas in jeopardy
GURGAON: A large swathe of green land sprawled across parts of Haryana including Faridabad and Gurgaon has been classified as both a ‘natural conservation zone’ as well as agriculture zone in the regional plan-2021 prepared by the NCR planning board (NCRPB).
This may open the forest to activities such as mining, stone quarrying and building brick kilns.
Also, non-polluting industries may come up in this area that environmental activists have been trying to protect. This overlap of two zones in the land use map is not seen anywhere else, except in very small pockets near Neemrana and Siliserh Lake in Alwar.
This land use map specifically adds, “The boundaries of conservation zones, that is, green areas, bird and wildlife sanctuaries, ridge, river bed and flood plains, lake/tank/pond, drain and canal are tentative and shall be in accordance with the sub regional plans/ master/development plans and notifications of MoEF and there of ”.
This statement is an arbitrary delegation of power to the One of the largest forest areas in the Aravallis situated close to Delhi, categorising it as a restricted agricultural zone will open the forest to mining and extraction including mining and brick kiln, stone quarries and crushing subject to rules. Also, non-polluting industries, fuel-filling stations, compost processing plants, service stations and repair workshops, power plants, storage for petroleum products, airport and railway station may come up in this area of the Aravalli that environmental activists have long been trying to protect.
states to make changes in the sub regional plans (SRP) behind closed doors.
However, according to legal experts, the provision makes the plan illogical in a court of law as it is not in accordance with the provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005 and the regional plan guidelines.
“The regional plan should be sacrosanct and any change Asola sanctuary Gurgaon Faridabad
These activities that are permissible under restricted agricultural zone are, on the other hand, illegal in areas that fall under the natural conservation zone provisions that allow a handful of activities like agriculture, pisiculture, social forestry and regional recreational activities. made in it requires public consultation. Therefore, if any changes in SRP lead to change in boundaries of natural conservation zone then it will need public review by mandate of law”, said Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Sarvadaman Oberoi, environmental and legal expert.
NCR planning board officials remained unavailable for comment.