NGT grants interim stay on Punjab farmhouse policy

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday granted an interim stay on the implementation of the Punjab Government’s policy to allow approval and regularisation of low-impact green habitats in areas abutting forests.

The policy has been stayed until the next date of hearing — February 4. The policy affects nearly 55,000 hectares of land taken out of the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. The policy was aimed to benefit VIPs, including politicians and serving and retired bureaucrats. Environmentalists and foresters alleged that the policy had been brought to regularise farmhouses of bigwigs in areas abutting forests with rich flora and fauna.

The petitioners — Kapil Dev, Ganesh Khurana and Mohit Jain — challenged the policy, alleging that it violated the Supreme Court’s directions regarding land taken out of the purview of the PLPA.

They said the policy contradicted guidelines set by the Supreme Court while delisting around 55,000 hectares of land from the PLPA. According to them, the court had allowed delisting only for bona fide agricultural use and sustainable livelihood, while barring commercial activity. They argued the policy would be used to seek commercial permissions.

The Supreme Court’s central empowered committee has also sought details of the policy and the specific portions of delisted land. Committee chairman Siddhanta Das has written to Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha seeking information on the areas delisted and related court orders.

A senior government functionary said the committee’s intervention came amid criticism from foresters and environmentalists. They alleged that the policy would benefit influential persons, including politicians and serving and retired bureaucrats, by opening the door for regularising hundreds of illegal farmhouses that would otherwise face demolition.

The Public Action Committee, Mattewara, and several environmentalists called the move “legally untenable, scientifically indefensible and potentially in contempt of the Supreme Court’s directions”.

In a recent representation to the Chief Minister, they argued that the Shivalik Hills’ unstable geology and steep slopes made even limited construction risky. They criticised the state for not awaiting the Centre’s decision on declaring an eco-sensitive zone around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and for ignoring provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Experts warn this may have severe ecological consequences for the fragile kandi belt in the Shivalik Hills from Mohali to Pathankot.