15 illegal farmhouses razed in Aravallis
Sumedha Sharma
Gurugram, February 2
In an effort to eliminate encroachments in the Aravalli region, the Sohna Municipal Committee has demolished 15 illegally constructed farmhouses in the Raisina area of the forest.
Drive till Sunday
- The Aravalli area is known to accommodate around 100 farmhouses, a majority of which are illegal.
- The authorities had issued notices to 48 of these to remove encroachments.
- With no compliance observed, a demolition drive was initiated.
- The drive is set to continue on Saturday and Sunday, despite 12 farmhouse owners having taken the matter to court.
Raisina is designated as a crusher zone in Gurugram and is notorious for being a sensitive location for illegal mining.
The authorities had previously issued notices to around 48 farmhouses in the area, instructing them to remove encroachments.
However, with no compliance observed, a demolition drive was initiated, resulting in the demolition of the farmhouses. The drive is set to continue on Saturday and Sunday, despite 12 farmhouse owners having taken the matter to court.
“We will continue the demolitions for the next two days with police support. The structures that were demolished were deemed illegal,” stated a senior official.
It’s worth noting that nestled in the Aravallis, this area is known to accommodate around 100 farmhouses, a majority of which are illegal.
Originally designated as 1,200 acres of protected forest land, the region is now adorned with opulent homes, swimming pools and well-maintained lawns.
The area, christened as Ansal Aravali Retreat, had 675 farm plots, including 457 one-acre plots and 218 two-acre plots, along with over 110 farmhouses.
Despite the illegal constructions, farmhouse owners have sought immunity from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They have cited the altered status of the hill in traditional revenue records, dating back to undivided Punjab before 1947, as a counter to accusations of illegal construction.
Among the five categories of land protected by the Aravalli notification is “gairmumkin pahar”, or uncultivable mountain. Certain areas in Gurugram (then Gurgaon), such as the hill in Raisina, were classified as “gairmumkin pahar” in revenue records as of May 7, 1992.
However, in the mid-2000s, during the case of Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd & Ors vs Haryana State Pollution Board, it was revealed that the status of the Raisina Hill in Haryana’s revenue records was not “gairmumkin pahar” but “gairmumkin farmhouse”. The alleged change occurred in 1991.
Farmhouse owners brought this distinction to court, arguing that the Aravalli notification did not cover their properties, and they should be granted immunity from prosecution under the EPA.
