2.81 lakh sq m of green belts encroached upon in Panipat

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, August 10

A total of 2,81,923 sq m area of green belts in sectors 6, 7, 18, 24 and 40 of the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has been encroached upon by owners of showrooms, liquor vends and factories in Panipat city.

Showrooms, dhabas, factories set up

• Strips of lands under these green belts have been encroached by owners of shops, showrooms, factories, dhabas etc.
• The NGT, in a case titled Raman Sharma vs State of Haryana, had on March 28 last year sought detailed information about green belts, parks and open spaces across the state for their protection and maintenance.

This was revealed in the report of a joint committee, comprising four senior IAS officers and other senior officers, formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The joint panel has submitted its report to the NGT this week. The NGT, in a case titled Raman Sharma versus the State of Haryana, had, on March 28 last year, sought detailed information about green belts, parks and open spaces across the state for their protection and maintenance. The NGT had also formed a joint committee, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC), CPCB, ACS/ Principal Department of Urban Planning; ACS/Principal Secretary of Urban Local Bodies; Director General, Town and Country Planning; Chief Administrator of HSVP and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

Following the direction, the joint committee collected data from all districts. As per data – there are 4,025 parks, green belts in urban and municipal areas in the state and the total area of these parks is 2.18 crore sq m. The joint committee, in its report, stated that the revenue data of 607 parks was searched from the record by the concerned MCs. As many as 3,935 out of 4,025 parks have been developed while the process for the development of 90 parks is underway, the report says. “There is encroachment in 10 parks in Panipat, Rohtak, Kaithal and Sirsa. Religious structures have been erected in these places,” said the joint committee report.

According to the report, 29,030 sq m area of the green belt on the sectors 6/7 dividing road, railway line and NH-44 has been encroached upon by owners of wine shops and factories; 67,637 sq m area of the green belt in Sector 18 has been encroached upon by wine vending shops; 74,462 sq m of the green belt in Sector 24 is encroached upon by illegal gates and path made by residents; 72,970 sq m near railway line and on the NH-44 in Sector 18 has been illegally encroached upon by owners of automobile showrooms, dhabas and wine shops; 37,824 sq m land of green belt near a drain and the NH-44 in Sector 40 has been encroached upon by owners of a sweets shop, temple and factory.

The joint committee recommended that the Town and Country Planning Department should conduct a survey and verify the measurement of green areas in private colonies to rule out any diversion of green areas for other activities. The encroachment from these 10 parks should be removed immediately, it has said. It has stated in its report that a comprehensive master plan should be developed by municipalities for green spaces, ensuring they are accessible to all residents and regular maintenance plans should be made. Parks should be provided adequate facilities such as benches, walking/jogging tracks, playgrounds, restrooms, water fountains etc.

Yogesh Ranga, Estate Officer (EO), HSVP, said the department would take strict action against the encroachment on green belts. He said a special drive had been launched to remove the encroachments on green belts in various sectors in the city here.

Details would be sought from the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) about the litigation cases, after which encroachments would be removed accordingly, the EO said.