5 months after offence report, government fails to stop constructions in Aravalis
More than five months after the issuance of a forest offence report (FOR) as well as a show-cause notice over illegal encroachments in Aravali forest area, no meaningful action was taken by the forest department, environmentalists said on Monday.
Members of Aravalli Bachao Citizen Movement say the "inaction" led to the expansion of illegal constructions and activities across more than 10 acres of protected forest land.
Environmentalists, in a letter to the forest department, on Monday alleged fresh borewells were dug without environmental clearance this month, violating groundwater extraction norms.
They have demanded immediate demolition of all illegal structures, sealing of borewells, removal of loudspeakers and floodlights and restoration of the natural creek.
Forest officials told TOI, "We will get a survey done to analyse how much is forest land."
Vaishali Rana, a member of the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement, said, "A large new structure was built over the past two months, including concretised areas, metal sheds and a cemented parking lot, now spanning over two acres. Loudspeakers installed on the premises play amplified music throughout the day, disturbing wildlife in the surrounding eco-sensitive zone."
Activists said high-intensity floodlights were installed, disrupting nocturnal wildlife movement.
"An illegal road, previously removed during the Covid-19 lockdown, was rebuilt, fragmenting wildlife habitat," Rana said. Rana, who documented the violations since 2019, expressed frustration over the lack of enforcement. "Over 100 trees were illegally felled in 2019 and despite repeated complaints, no deterrent action was taken.
This reflects gross negligence and possible collusion by forest officials," she said.
Trustee of the Aravallis Bachao Citizens Movement Col SS Oberoi said, "The natural stormwater drainage line was fully concretised and painted over, eliminating groundwater recharge potential. With increased human activity, untreated sewage from the temple complex is reportedly being discharged directly into the forest."
The violations, first formally reported on Jan 13, had led to the issuance of the FOR, which documented encroachment over 2,300 square metres of land protected under Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). Despite this, the illegal tin sheds, cemented structures and tiled areas remain untouched.
While Faridabad has seen active demolition of illegal structures under PLPA, similar violations in Gurgaon remain unaddressed. Environmentalists warn that continued inaction could set a dangerous precedent, undermining the integrity of the Aravalli ecosystem — one of the oldest mountain ranges in India and a critical green buffer for the National Capital Region.
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