Demolition drive intensifies in Aravalli: 15 houses razed in 2 days

In a continued crackdown on illegal construction in the Aravalli forest region, the Municipal Corporation and Forest Department of Faridabad demolished 10 more farmhouses on Thursday, following the razing of five illegal structures a day earlier. The action was carried out in the presence of heavy police deployment to ensure law and order.

Deputy Commissioner Vikram Yadav confirmed that the demolition drive is being carried out as per the Supreme Court’s directions. The apex court has mandated the removal of all illegal structures in the Aravalli forest area, with a deadline to submit a compliance report by July 2025.

Officials said over 6,793 illegal constructions, both large and small, were identified during a drone survey of the Aravalli region. The court had previously granted a three-month period to clear the encroachments and the administration is now moving swiftly to meet the deadline.

The latest demolition drive began around 11 am on Thursday, when a joint team of the Forest Department and Municipal Corporation, equipped with four bulldozers, reached the stretch from Anand Van to Aravalli. The operation continued till about 5 pm, with over 200 police personnel stationed in the area to prevent any disturbance.

According to sources, some of the demolished farmhouses were worth crores and allegedly belonged to the son of a former IAS officer and a person close to a politician. On Wednesday, structures built on around 10 acres of forest land were also

brought down.

A senior official said the demolition campaign will extend to illegal constructions in four nearby villages — Anangpur, Lakkadpur, Ankheer and Mewala Maharajpur. The drive is expected to continue in the coming days, he added.