90 farmhouses on periphery of Chandigarh to face action

The state government has rejected regularisation pleas of around 90 farmhouse owners, including politicians and former bureaucrats, who undertook construction on the periphery of Chandigarh.

Citing non-adherence to the Eco-Tourism Policy, 2009, the Eco-Tourism Development Committee (EDC), headed by Secretary, Forests and Wildlife, Priyank Bharti, in a speaking order, has rejected the cases, making it clear that the existing structures were in violation of the guidelines.

The EDC has, however, allowed the landowners to apply for permission afresh under the policy. The affected farmhouse owners had contended before the EDC that the guidelines issued by the Centre in 2018 were applicable to them and not the Eco-Tourism Policy.

Officials in the Department of Forests and Wildlife said the speaking order would discourage unregulated mushrooming of farmhouses in violation of forest laws and the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900.

In some cases, commercial activities were being run from these farmhouses right under the nose of the authorities.

These farmhouses are located in Karoran, Nada, Parch, Jyanti Majri, Seonk, Nagal, Parol, Sultanpur, Siswan, Majra, Dulwan, Palanpur, Mirzapur and Tarapur villages.

The Forest Department has categorised farmhouses in two groups — those constructed in the areas delisted under the PLPA and the ones that have come up in the areas under the PLPA. A majority of these are in the delisted areas.

Sources said the Forest Department would prosecute around 20 farmhouse owners, whose structures fell in the areas covered under the PLPA, under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act, 1927, and for violation of the Supreme Court’s orders.

In other cases, the Forest Department has written to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority to act against the violators.

In March, the EDC had slapped notices on the farmhouse owners and asked them to appear before the committee with relevant records to decide whether the permissions can be granted in accordance with the Eco-Tourism Policy.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had asked the EDC to give due hearing to the farmhouse owners after eco-tourism permissions, granted by former Chief Conservator (Forests) Harsh Kumar were revoked by the Forest Department, stating that the approvals were given without any authority.