Despite SC orders, drive against illegal constructions in Faridabad forest area yet to resume

The drive against illegal constructions and encroachments in the forest belt here hasn't been resumed yet, even though the Forest Department is to submit a status report in the Supreme Court in March.

The authorities had planned to conduct a drive to remove unauthorised constructions in January after a survey found about 6,500 unauthorised constructions in 700 clusters. It is claimed that the drive was suspended at the last moment due to political intervention.

Sunil Harsana, an environmental activist, said authorities might not be able to remove the encroachments due to the amendment to the Forest Conservation Act introduced last year. Varun Sheokand, a resident, said the impending civic body elections and the formation of the new government had adversely impacted the prospects of the drive.

Over 500 hectares of land falling under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900 (PLPA), notified area of Ankhir, Mangar, Pali, Anangpur, Dhauj, Mohabatabad, Badkhal and Kattan Pahari villages in the Surajkund area here is reported to be under illegal occupation. The violations include over 130 farmhouses and banquet gardens, according to sources. Some of the representations submitted by the owners of such constructions to the District Core Committee may have also stalled the move. The last drive carried out in January last year resulted in action against only a handful of constructions. Though drives had been conducted in the past, legal and technical issues became hurdle in removal of violations.

It may be recalled that residents of Khori village, where about 8,000 constructions had been removed in June 2021, moved a petition in the Supreme Court alleging discrimination by the authorities concerned. It was claimed that a large number of illegal constructions, including hotels, farmhouses and commercial constructions, had not been removed. As the court has ordered removal of all unauthorised constructions from the PLPA zone, a status report is expected to be submitted in the court in March this year.

While the Divisional Forest Officer Jhalkar Uyake was not available for a version, Badkhal MLA Danesh Adlakha has demanded action against illegal constructions in the forest area falling in his Assembly segment.