Gurugram: 100 acres of Aravali land to be cleared of illegal farmhouses

GURUGRAM: The forest department on Wednesday said that they will carry out demolition drives in
more than 100 acres of Aravali plantation area which span across 11 villages next month. These areas
have been encroached for construction of farmhouses in a survey by the forest department. Notices have
been issued to violators.
“We will be carrying out a mass scale demolition drive next month. The drive is on hold for the transfer of
lower staff in the department. We have already sent out more than 70 notices so far to encroachers who
have grabbed the Aravali Plantation area,” said Karamvir Malik, forest ranger, Gurgaon

The Aravali Plantation project, carried out in the 90s to revive around 33,000 hectares across six districts
in the state, was notified under FCA after the Supreme Court ordered it to do so in a 2004 ruling. Haryana has just around 3.6% of its total land categorised as forests — among the lowest for any
state in India. Once the restoration is complete, the forest department will also conduct drone surveys every month to
ensure that no further encroachment takes place.
As per the forest department survey, there are at least 50 such farmhouses built illegally on Aravali land,
concentrated in areas like Gwal Pahari, Gairatpur Bas, Sohna, Raisina, Manesar, Shikohpur, Sahrawan, Naurangpur, Sakatpur, Ghata and Baharampur

Experts said that Aravali needs continuous monitoring because of the unusual nature of land ownership
here, that largely rests with panchayats and private owners, despite construction being prohibited.
“The area is protected forest, as per the Supreme Court order, the forest department needs to ensure it is
protected. Farmhouses, boundary walls and encroachments should not be allowed,” said Sunil Harsana,
ecologist and wildlife expert.