Faridabad civic body demolishes over 30 farmhouses built on forest land
GURUGRAM: The Faridabad municipal corporation on Monday resumed action against farmhouses built on forest land and partially demolished 39 of them in Anangpur village.
These houses, built in the vicinity of Kant Enclave, violated provisions of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (sections 4&5) and had been asked by the Supreme Court to be demolished.
Civic agency officials said the demolitions had started after October 17. Although the original structures haven’t been demolished yet, boundary walls, platforms and other demarcating constructions have been pulled down.
The move came after environmental activists criticised the civic agency for delaying the demolition of farmhouses despite a Supreme Court directive to this effect. Officials, however, said assembly elections had led to the delay in carrying out the drive.
“The demolition was delayed by a few days due to the elections. Most officials were busy in poll duty,” said an official. He added that the municipal corporation was carrying out a survey of all forest areas to identify places that have been encroached upon. “The survey was held up due to the elections. But we will resume our study of forest areas next week. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year,” he added.
On September 11, 2018, the Supreme Court had ordered the demolition of houses to check illegal constructions on the Aravalis, in keeping with provisions of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. “Kant Enclave is a forest or forest land or is required to be treated as a forest or forest land,” the apex court had stated in its order.
It had directed the Haryana government to demolish unauthorised structures built in the area. The apex court had also directed the authorities to deposit Rs 5 crore for rejuvenating the damaged area and to pay compensation to the affected houses owners.
The colony has 42 occupied plots and about 60 families live in the colony.
Read at more:
Categories: News
