Encroachments, ‘illegal’ construction on green belts go unchecked in Faridabad

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, January 17

Large-scale construction and encroachments on green belts have emerged as a cause for concern in the Greater Faridabad area.

Although the district authorities have been directed to take action against violators, the problem has not been resolved so far, said sources in the district administration.

The issue was also taken up by a legislator in the last meeting of the district coordination committee, chaired by the local MP.

The departments concerned, including the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad and the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), were asked to ensure removal of all the encroachments from the green belts.

It is claimed that a large number of plant nurseries have come up on green belts along master roads in Greater Faridabad. The land mafia is allegedly earning a monthly rent of up to Rs 1 lakh from each occupant.

Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, Faridabad MP, has directed the civic bodies to take prompt action against the violators.

Sources in the district administration revealed that scores of unauthorised buildings, including showrooms, shops and vendor markets, have been built on the green belt area along almost all the master roads in the area in the past few years.

Social activist Paras Bhardwaj alleged that hundreds of illegal constructions had come up on green belts. He further said that such activity was not possible without the patronage of the land mafia.

He said the vendors at temporary vegetable markets have occupied a major chunk of the green belts and are hampering the traffic movement as they encroach upon roads.

A local resident, AK Gaur, alleged that no action was taken against violators for these encroachments and unauthorised constructions, which are adversely affecting the green cover in the area. He said poor upkeep of green belts has made them prone to encroachments or turned them into garbage dumping yards.

Alleging violation of the NGT norms, another resident, Varun Sheokand, said that most of the liquor vends and drinking spots are located on green belts.

It is claimed that the land in the area costs between Rs 15 crore and Rs 20 crore per acre. It is added that some of the roads and areas in the region have been transferred to the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority.

HSVP Estate Officer Siddharth Dahiya said that drives against encroachments and illegal construction were being organised on a regular basis. He added that the HSVP had leased some of the spots to liquor vends in an authorised manner.

Land mafia ‘charging’ up to Rs 1L rent

• It is claimed that many plant nurseries have come up on green belts along master roads in Greater Faridabad.
• The land mafia is allegedly earning a monthly rent amounting up to Rs 1 lakh from each occupant.
• Scores of unauthorised buildings, liquor vends and drinking spots have come up on green belts.

Norms followed

The HSVP has leased out some of the spots to liquor vends in an authorised manner. — Siddharth Dahiya, estate officer, HSVP

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