Battered Aravalli hills, pollution in Faridabad are non-issues

Bijendra Ahlawat

The battered ecology of Aravalli hills and illegal constructions and mining in forests reserved under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) in Faridabad district do not figure in the Lok Sabha election campaigns of various parties. Faridabad residents say it is unfortunate that political parties or candidates are neither raising the issues prominently nor they have included them in their election agendas. 

“The population of Faridabad city has already crossed 16 lakh and the quality of air we breathe or water we consume in this industrial hub of north India is the poorest,” claims Sanjay Bagul, an environment activist. 

“My parents bought a house in the foothills of Aravalli hills at Sector 49 in Faridabad expecting pure and fresh air, but we are shocked as we are instead getting fly ash and a foul smell round the clock due to the removal of the waste of a thermal power plant dumped at a site near our residential colony. While hundreds of families residing in the area are affected by pollution, no political party, leader or the local administration has ever bothered to resolve the problem or give an assurance of a solution,” he rues. 

“Though the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress candidates have spoken at some public meetings on pollution and the ecology of the area after people raised the issues with them and requested them to include these in their agendas or poll promises,” says Varun Sheokand, a social activist. 

He says that while it is a matter of satisfaction that two of the leading candidates have assured us of proper measures and tough action against the land and mining mafia to save Aravalli hills, if elected, no political party, however, has come out openly with a written assurance. 

Sheokand says that over 300 illegal dyeing units are operating in Faridabad city and that too in residential areas located mostly in the Neharpar area (Greater Faridabad). These units have polluted not only air but also groundwater, which has been the main source of drinking water in the city. “Despite the orders of the National Green Tribunal to close down such units, the authorities of various government departments have been sitting idle, passing the buck,” he adds. 

Satinder Singh, a resident of Sector 86, says that the parties have intentionally not raised the issues of pollution and environment, as people engaged in damaging the ecology are directly linked with political leaders. 

He adds that though the government has taken Rs 5,500 crore as external development charges (EDC), around 40,000 people in Greater Faridabad are living without proper sewerage and water connections. “An amount between Rs one crore and Rs 1.5 crore exchanges hands every month with regard to the disposal of untreated sewage of over 24 residential societies in this area,” claims Pramod Manocha, president of the Greater Faridabad Residents Welfare Association.  

“While all candidates and their supporters, who visited residential housing societies during their election campaigns, were reminded of the issues, most of them only gave a verbal assurance as usual,” he says. 

LN Parashar, an advocate, says that there is need to launch a massive campaign on the issue of illegal constructions and mining going on in Aravalli hills and green belts. Over 100 acres in the hills have either been occupied illegally or have been exploited for mining of stones in the past two to three months, while the officials concerned looked away. “I have lodged several complaints with the state and Union governments but to no avail,” he added.

Gravity of situation no one’s concern

While the demolition of residential structures in Kant Enclave in Faridabad and reports of large-scale constructions and mining point towards the gravity of the problem, no candidate has raised the issue and no party has included forest and ecology preservation in its manifesto. —Jitender Bhadana, activist of NGO Save Aravalli Hills