Demolition drive in Aravallis stutters

Tribune News Service
Faridabad, January 17

The drive launched by the Forest Department to remove encroachments and illegal constructions in the Aravalli forest area in the district seems like a non-starter.

The department, which pulled down the wall of a farmhouse on Thursday, did not carry out any such work on Friday. It was expected to demolish all illegal constructions that had been identified previously.

“We went to raze illegal constructions in the Aravallis on Thursday, but could only pull down the wall of one farmhouse. The owner of the next building that was planned to be demolished showed us a stay order from court,” said Vikram Singh, Range Forest Officer.

“The department will launch the drive afresh after reviewing the status of all constructions. The department can land in trouble if action is taken in violation of a stay order,” he said. He pointed out that he had been posted here recently.

He said he was working on getting thorough knowledge on the issue and was not in a position to comment on the total number of illegal constructions in the area. Divisional Forest Officer Suresh Punia was unavailable for comment.

Ombir Singh, Executive Engineer, municipal corporation, said they had provided support staff and JCBs for the drive. He said the drive was aborted due to production of a stay order and heavy rain.

He said the wall of one building was pulled down in the two-hour-long operation. He said the drive could not continue on Friday as officials of the department concerned did not turn up.

Deputy Commissioner Yashpal Yadav sought a report from officials of the Forest Department on the action taken so far.

He said directions had been issued to the department to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court and state government for action against encroachments in the forest area.

He said the drive began in the wake of a notice issued by the Supreme Court on August 23 last year regarding the status of illegal constructions in the Aravallis.