Illegal structures on Aravalli forestland to be razed next week

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 28

The district administration has said the demolition drive on 1,430 acres of the Aravalli forestland will begin early next week.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Joon here today.

The Supreme Court had, on July 23, directed the district authorities to clear all encroachments on the forestland while hearing a case related to the Khori demolition.

“The Khori demolition is a smaller project in comparison with the upcoming drive. Decks have been cleared. Illegal farmhouses, marriage gardens, and educational or commercial institutions built on the forestland will be razed,” Deputy Commissioner Yashpal Yadav told the media after the meeting.

He further said the Forest Department had identified around 130 illegal constructions, including farmhouses. “A drone survey will be carried out to identify more encroachments that may have come up since the last survey undertaken two years ago.”

The DC said court stay, if any, would be invalid in view of the Supreme Court order.

The Forest Department has started serving four-day notices on owners so that they remove the structures voluntarily.

“The administration will impose the cost of demolition on the owner if it not demolished within the given time period,” Yadav said, adding any structure in violation of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) would be razed. “There will be no discrimination.”

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rajkumar said, “Of the 5,400 hectares of forestland spread in 15 villages, 572 hectares (1,430 acres) are under illegal occupation. A majority of encroachments are at Ankhir, Mewla Maharajpur, Anangpur, Pali, Badkhal and Manger villages.”

Divisional Commissioner Joon said the drive would be carried out without a break with coordination among departments concerned.

QUOTE

No discrimination

Illegal farmhouses, marriage gardens, and educational or commercial institutions built on the forestland will be razed. Any structure in violation of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) would be razed. “There will be no discrimination

Yashpal Yadav, faridabad dc