GREENERY A PAWN IN GROWTH GAME
GROSS VIOLATIONS State government is unable to check rampant tree felling in southern Haryana even though the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court have pulled it up several times over the issue
The Aravallis are facing disaster. The Haryana government continues with its tinkering with the ecologically fragile forests and even the courts have not been able to stop it over the years. And the Regional Plan-2021 may prove to be the last straw.
GURGAON: The Aravallis are facing disaster. The Haryana government continues with its battering of the ecologically fragile forests and even the courts have not been able to stop it over the years. And if the Regional Plan-2021 — that allows tourism activities in the Aravallis — is approved, it may deal a death blow to the green lungs of Delhi-NCR.
The Supreme Court had ruled in 1996 that any tree felling in designated forest areas can be done only by state agencies and not by any private party. The National Green Tribunal has also intervened time and again. But tree felling goes on unchecked deep inside the Aravallis in parts of southern Haryana even today.
On Monday, the National Green Tribunal gave the Haryana government two weeks’ time “by way of last opportunity” to file an affidavit regarding its orders on tree felling in the Aravalli forests. Monday’s ultimatum comes after the illegal felling of trees in the Aravallis continued even after being told by the green court to maintain status quo. The state government claimed that the court order was misinterpreted.
“The state government as well as the corporation is hereby directed to maintain status quo with regard to felling and removal of trees,” read the NGT order of January 29 in the Haryali Welfare Society versus Union of India and others case. The case had highlighted largescale felling of trees in Sirsa, Palwal and Hisar by private contractors, despite Supreme Court orders against it.
The NGT on Monday also reprimanded the state government for damage to the green cover in Aravallis and marked departmental action against senior state officials. This is not an isolated case. Such incidents of unauthorised cutting of trees are regularly reported from parts of Haryana, especially the southern districts situated closer to the National Capital.
Proximity to Delhi has made the green areas in Gurgaon and Faridabad prime investment destinations for top realtors, who have been planning several projects by disturbing the already fragile Aravalli ecosystem, reportedly in collusion with the state government.
The Haryana authorities have on several occasions tried to facilitate development in the Aravallis, by opening the forests to developers. Most recently, in the 34th board meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), Haryana proposed changes in the Regional Plan-2021 to include tourism as per state policies.
The Regional Plan- 2021 prepared by the NCRPB has allowed more than 0.5% construction and tourism in the Aravallis placing the forest in the hands of the colonisers.
“The Haryana government has not been following developmental and environmental procedures and favouring some developers. If the forest cover keeps depleting it may lead to a disastrous situation where millions of lives in NCR could be at risk in the near future,” said Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Sarvadaman Oberoi, treasurer, Mission Gurgaon Development.
He pointed out that the tourism policy of the state has provisions for residential as well as commercial construction.
Despite several objections raised by the green activists regarding highly consequential environmental dilutions in the Regional Plan-2021, the NCRPB is all set to pass it as well as the sub-regional plans in a rush. Changes in the Natural Conservation Zone have been made after incorporating suggestions by developers to the draft plan.
Devastation of the Aravallis’ Natural Conservation Zone here will choke the last remains of NCR’s green lungs making the residents of Gurgaon and Delhi vulnerable to health hazard.
But the forest department seems short-sighted when it comes to the havoc that tourism and construction can wreak in the forests. “Complaints are recorded and action is regularly taken against offenders as it is brought to our notice. However, buying and selling of land is not an illegal matter,” said a senior official of the forest department.